November 15, 1944

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
November 15th, 1944
Wednesday, 8:30 A.M.

My darling,

I’m terribly sorry about not getting a letter written last night, but as
everyone had gone to bed, I decided I’d better not stay up, but maybe I can
write two today.
By the time it stopped raining yesterday morning, it was late in the morning,
and had almost given up going again.  I cleaned house, washed dishes, etc.,
and it was 1:00 o’clock before Ronnie and I finally got going.  After leaving
Sycamore[,] traffic on the highway was stopped for over half an hour because a
herd of sheep were milling all over the road.  The sheep tenders with the help
of [a] State Highway Truck finally got them off the road and we were able to
pass.  I finally got here at 4:00 o’clock, and as I didn’t tell them I was
coming, Betty’s sister was here, and it seems I’m cheating
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her out of bed, and she has to sleep on the Davenport.  I had intended staying
over this week-end, but think I’ll go home sooner now.
As for Betty’s housekeeping, I’ve given her up, especially now with two babies.
When I think of how immaculate my mother kept the place and see the change,
now, it gets me!  I guess that’s why I’m so glad to get home again.
I finally went to the Alpha Club last night after about 3 years absence.  This
is a club I belonged to while I lived here, and it was nice to see the girls
(about 12 of them) after all this time.  Some of them were single then, and
now have two children, others had one and now have three.  Seems as tho they’re
racing to see who gets the biggest family.  Guess I’m out of the race for the
duration, huh?  Out of 12 girls at [the] club only two had husbands in the
service, and
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then they were in this country.  I was certainly out of the conversation, as
they all talk about their babies, husbands, etc. ( Ronnie is having a big time
playing with Patsy, altho he’s pretty selfish about his trains and won’t even
let Patsy have even one car). (And he keeps pushing her down all the time).
Guess he’s used to playing with the boys.  Patsy has curly hair now and is
getting cute.  I used to think she was sort of homely.  The new baby is
prettier than Patsy was at the same age.
Betty had rabbit for dinner last night, and I called Eleanor Johnson this
morning, and she asked me to come over for lunch and stay all day as Jack isn’t
going to be home at all today.  She’s going to have baked pheasant for lunch,
and I’ve never had it before.  Rabbit and pheasant in two days.  Not bad, huh?
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Well, darling, with Betty, her sister, Ronnie, Patsy and June in this living
room,  I can’t concentrate, so guess I’ll stop, and get dressed to go over to
Eleanor’s.
Bye, sweetheart, and I love you every minute, and would give anything to have
you here.  I’m so darn lonesome!
All our love,
Mom and Ronnie.
P.S.  Be careful when you get to Paris!!!