Monday, December 28, 1942
Dear Mom and Dad, Well Christmas is over. I really had a grand time but can you guess what Dopey did? He married a Jap. Now isn”™t that awful? Will send you some pictures of them soon. Sgt. Hodge took Dopey and I couldn”™t find him. I was kind mad ”˜cause I didn”™t want to lose him. They kept kiddin”™ me about Dopey going over the hill and being a bad boy, so Christmas day we got our presents out, in the ward 7 I got this box marked to Dopey Fuller and inside was this Jap doll, even to the slant eyes and made in Japan.
We made a tree out of branches and the Colonel was up and said it was the nicest decorated ward he had seen. The Signal Corp took pictures of it for the paper. I got many nice things from the nurses on the ward, a box of Yardley dusting powder, a blackout pencil, sure cute just turn a little rubber and it lights up so you can see to write in the dark. Also a bottle cologne from Richard Huduts, two hankies and $5 bill from the boys and many boxes of candy. From the girls we drew names with, a bottle of perfume, comb and soap. From the Capt of the ward, a nice leather book called Record of the Day.
From Jr a large alligator suitcase, makeup case, complete with pots of creams, powder, astringents and then the tray lifts out and there is ample space for various other articles. It also has to compartments on either side one for pins (bobby) and the other for jewelry. Jr by the way is gone now. I don”™t even know his address or anything. For his birthday I saw to it he had a large cake delivered to him it was as large as a dishpan, all decorated with flowers. He sure was surprised, he said the boys were all waiting for him to wake up so they could eat it. So he said he laid there playing possum until 10 a.m. then he got up and so very casually took a shower and shaved, polished his shoes and that was enough. They lost their patience and made him cut it. He sure loves to tease.
I am sending Slip”™s package to the message center so he will get it soon I hope. One of our nurse”™s received a carrier pigeon in a cage with a note, so she fed it, put a note on it and it flew back to her boyfriend, kinda cute I think. Our head nurse gave us a lot of kitchen things so we can learn to cook. I don”™t think I”™ll ever learn. Guess I don”™t care enough about it. The day before Christmas I sure was busy. Went on duty till 9 a.m. then downtown, back at 11:45 wrapped packages, got more lights for our tree, dinner at 12:30, on duty at 1 p.m. we decorated the ward some more, did usual ward work, party of nurses at 5:30 show at 6:30 another party at 10 p.m. then down to the Fort to midnight mass, back at 2 a.m. but had fun. Christmas day worked until 1 a.m. then had a nice dinner, mashed potatoes, turkey green beans and peas and ice cream. The tables were fixed very nice mango, apples (yes red ones too) and whole pineapples with large Hibiscus flowers all over.
We had a party the 23rd for the Drs. They had a good time I think. We danced then three girls (nurses) did various hula dances in cellophane skirts. The table was very pretty, candles and a large cheesecake, very good –it was pimento cheese with cream and garlic. It was about the size of a basin (wash) all decorated like a cake. Then small sandwiches of tuna, sardines, shrimp and ground chicken, cookies, candy, olives (ripe) and pickles.
Major Robinson played Ave Marie on the violin, very beautiful then we all sang songs and of course at 11:30 all had to go. One of those rules you know. So the next night the docs put on a small party for us. Well must close. Be good and am looking for a letter and Dad you may write too -really I won”™t mind a bit you know. Aloha -AraBelle
PS-Had a card from Mrs. Danny LaHaye Well Happy New Year and be good Love and Kisses AraBelle
Love – AraBelle