08 Nov November 8, 1944

Letter
from: Mrs. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
November 8, 1945
Wed. 8:45 P.M.

My Darling,

Two days and no letter from Daddy.  Got a phone bill and electric bill, but
that won’t serve the purpose at all.

It’s been raining all day and it’s still raining tonight, so it’s pretty dreary.
I ironed part of my wash today and read a little and entertained Ronnie a
little and pretty soon the whole day is gone.

Ronnie asked me at breakfast today if Daddy would be back after a while to play
with Ronnie’s marbles.  He got 3 marbles while at Gladys’ house and I’ve led a
hectic life ever since keeping track of them for him.  Seems they always get
under chairs, davenports, chests etc. and I have to crawl under to get them for
him.  Do you remember when he had that little glass marble when we had

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him downtown with us and he kept dropping it all the time and we’d have to go
get it for him every time.  It seems so long ago.  I remember now, it was the
day I adopted Ronnie legally.

Elinor isn’t having her operation until Thanksgiving week, so guess she’ll have
to be alone when I go to Rockford next week.  Not only that, but I’ll be alone
when she’s gone, and she may be gone a couple of weeks or more.  I’m sort of
frightened to be alone, as the Pages are seldom home and don’t usually get in
until after midnight.  I s’pose I’ll survive, tho.

Gladys asked me to come out there for Christmas.  I asked her to come here, but
she said she had to have dinner for Dick’s relatives and she thinks Les and
Ellen may be home, as he hopes to get a furlough.  He’s s’posed to serve

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as cadre for a period of 6 months at Blanding.  By the way I heard Jack
Teagarden’s orchestra broadcast from Blanding tonite.  I wish you were still
there and that I could hop a train and spend Christmas there with you, honey.

I’m going down to the Loop tomorrow on a Christmas shopping tour, and Edith
offered to take care of Ronnie, so I should really get something done.  It’s
pretty hard to take Ronnie downtown because unless he’s crossing a street he
won’t hold my hand anymore.  He says, "I want to walk by myself, Mommie."
And that will never do in the crowds downtown.  In fact he wants to do
everything by himself now and at times it gets exasperating.  If I help him up
the stairs or put him on a chair, he’ll walk all the way back downstairs and
start over by himself, or get off the chair

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and get up by himself again.  When I’m in a hurry and he decides he wants to
put on his own shoes and socks and takes hours doing it. [that’s frustrating].
When I have lots of time, it’s O.K. and I want him to learn, but sometimes he
gives up and comes over and says, "You help me, Mommie!"  He’s just the age
where he wants to do everything, but as yet not quite able to.  I guess we all
did the same thing and it’s the only way to learn to do things.

Well, guess Roosevelt is in again.  Also understand a vast majority of
soldiers’ votes were for him, contrary to your opinion.

Mrs. DeYoung called this morning and invited me to a luncheon next Wed., but I
refused, as I’m going to be in Rockford then.  Edith also called and invited me

to a Book Review Fri. night, but told her I’d be busy packing, etc.  She never
gives up.  Well goodnite, Sweetheart, and all our Love,

Mom and Ronnie