31 Jul November 12, 1944

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
November 12, 1944
Sunday 11:10 P.M.

Dearest Wes,

Well guess Ronnie’s spending most of yesterday in bed cured him, as he was
fully recovered from his "sniffles" today, - thank goodness!

This afternoon he asked us if we’d take him for a ride in the car, and he also
wanted to go see a show!  Imagined?  We gave in, as we’d thought of it anyway,
having stayed at home last night.  We decided to go to the Beverly, but as the
line for tickets was 1 1/2 blocks long, we decided we’d stop at Hynes’
restaurant for a barbeque and coffee.  When we came out the line was still
longer, and the usher said there would be an hour and 10 minutes wait, so we
drove out to the Coral at 95th and Cicero, only to find another long line.  By
that time it was 4:00 P.M. and we went home, and ate again, then sat around
reading until 7:00 P.M.  when

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I put Ronnie to bed.  The Pages had company, so we asked them if they’d look in
on Ronnie if we went out for a couple of hours.  He was sound asleep within 5
minutes, so we left, and bowled three games at the Rose Bowl.  I bowled 103 my
first game and even had a strike and a couple of spares.  The next game was 79,
and the third was 71.  Isn’t that terrible?  Of course I haven’t bowled at all
since you and I bowled almost 2 yrs. ago, so guess it wasn’t too bad.  Elinor
bowled 179-103-158.  Not bad, huh?  Next time we’re going on a Sunday morning
and take Ronnie with us.  I bet he’d like seeing the balls go rolling down the
alleys, but maybe we’d have trouble as he’d want to chase them.

I forgot!  Mrs. Hayes had been over yesterday to find out why I was still home,
as she knew I’d planned on going to Rockford.  Ronnie was asleep at the time,
and I told her he had a slight

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cold.  Well, just as we got home in the car this afternoon, she and Ernest came
over and thinking Ronnie was still sick had brought him a gift (a set of blocks
- cardboard with pictures of trains, animals etc. on them).  I felt sort of
silly, as she probably didn’t believe he had been sick at all.  But then again,
regardless of what she thinks, I’m still glad Ronnie didn’t get real sick.  I
guess every time he even looks like he’s getting a cold I put him to bed to
prevent it’s coming on.

S’pose you’re wondering how Judy is after being hit by the car last night.
Well, as far as I can see I can’t see any injuries, and she runs as fast as
ever, and runs up and down stairs without any trouble and eats everything she’s
fed, so guess she’s O.K.  I’m so glad that I can hardly believe it when I see
her running around the house as usual.  I guess she was pretty lucky

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not to suffer any ill effects at all.

I’m sitting here on the Davenport, all by myself (Elinore’s in bed and wasn’t
hungry) eating a cheese sandwich and a glass of hot malted milk.  These evening
snacks and my tablespoon of cod liver oil I take along with Ronnie, should
fatten me up in no time.  I weigh 112 pounds now, and that’s 4 lbs more than I
weighed in July.  Trouble is if I gain 4 lbs. more, I won’t be able to wear my
old clothes and that will be tragic!  Maybe I should start dieting now.  By the
way how much do you think I should weigh?  Or do you like chubby girls?

I’m getting silly, so guess I’ll go to bed.  Guess I’d better confess I had a

coke and a cake and, at the Rose Bowl.  Aren’t I a bad girl?  We came home at
9:30, so guess I was a pretty good girl at that!

Bye, honey, and lots of love and a kiss (to be collected later - I hope!)
Mom and Ronnie.

P.S.
I dreamt of you last night, but in my dream, you were so busy with business you
didn’t know I existed!  It was awful.  And hope that never comes true!