Tuesday, December 29, 1942
Dearest Dooley,
I wrote you a v-letter but did not get to say all I wanted to, so here goes again.
I am in the hospital. Sister Irmena is not able to work anymore, she spends most of her time in here talking. She takes care of my flowers. I sure appreciate that. Sister Assumption said to tell you hello and that most of their kids now have inner spring mattress. I have a brand new one on my bed. Sister Rachel said to tell you hello – and said for you to write sometime. Two of the sisters played a joke on Sister Assumption on Christmas. They fixed a big box and fixed it postmarked Honolulu and had a lot of stamps on it so at Christmas when Sister Assumption opened it there was nothing in it. She said “I just don”™t see why AraBelle would send such a big empty box so far”. Until this day no one knows the joke, only the two sisters.
Sister Irmena is so anxious to know what a v-letter is like so write her one. I just don”™t happen to have one here right now to show her.
Dad is alone, can”™t get help of any kind. Gee Ollie was sure nice to me; she stayed right with me for four days. Lorraine Stiner is getting along ok. She had foot of intestine cut out. Sister Assumption just left me a package from Aunt Laurel and it is a box of chocolates.
Gee Paul likes your letters. Well how is James? I thought of him on his birthday but was so sick I could hardly raise an arm, but I feel pretty pert today. I had no idea it would be such a serious operation and neither did Dr. Bailey. Have you tried the biscuits for James? Hope they turned out good.
Well I must quit and will write again.
Lots of Love, Mother
PS – Did you get to see Johnny? I told him about Dopey marrying a Jap. Did you see Slip?