Airmail Regular Mail[1] 2/24/45
Dear Bob[2]-
Every time I
start to write to you I think about the censor who reads this letter + then I get
cautious. We hear so any tales about the proper kind of “moral” letter to send
overseas that you are almost hesitant to write anything.
It’s been a
busy week and it seems strange to be sitting home alone on Saturday night. Momma
came down with Hubert[3]
+ Billie[4]
on Sunday and stayed here in Hollywood until Thursday night. Hubert + Billie
went on to the desert – will be shipping you some dates as soon as they have a
letter from you asking for food. The brought me some dates – also desert
grapefruit and they are good!
There wasn’t
a lot momma and I could do – a job frequently interferes with one’s pleasures.
We went to Farmers Market with Mrs. Miner for lunch; went to Aunt Martha’s (she’s
still a-working) and one day went shopping. Now I can think of so many
things we might have done – such as Ferndale-Griffith Park or the
observatory. Momma is a good visitor – the stuff she brought with her! One complete
devil’s food cake[5]
– one dozen eggs[6]
– 1/1 lb butter (it takes 12 red points, too! – a fried chicken and of course,
a box of oranges and grapefruit. Also canned peaches and pickles, which I dare
not forget for they are precious. I still have fruit left and will remember
momma very pleasantly every time I use some of it.
Walter has
gone up to Fresno for a few days. The folks who were renting our house were transferred
and we had to take care of it. Walter phoned tonight that he had rented it to
an army captain, with a baby in the family. We’ve always said we’d not rent to “them
with children” but I’m glad Walter did because it’s especially hard for those
people to get places. Fresno must be packed to the gills and places to live
even scarcer than here in L.A.[7]
We had any number of long distance calls[8]
about the house before Walter went up to Fresno.
I listened
to the Hit Parade again tonight. Lawrence Tibbett sang only one Hit Parade song –
but did nicely on his two “extras”. He sang oh what a Beautiful Morning which
is a favorite of mine. Do you hear any of the broadcasts? The announced that
the program was broadcast to the boys overseas.
I try to
keep track of the 15th air force by radio and newspaper but just now
Manila + the Berlin front seem to be getting all the headlines. Don’t get me wrong
no because I assure you it suits me fine to have the 15th air force
at least relatively quiescent. You probably aren’t “quiescent” – I’d
better change the subject as I seem to be getting deeper + deeper all the time.
You write
such nice interesting letters and it is all I can do to fill the pages. Is
there any particular news I can send you? If I were in Fresno I’d perhaps have more
to write.
I’ve been
reading lately – even reading Upton Sinclair! Presidential Agent is the
book I have now. He’s very explicit and informative – mentions some one in
England who went to “Magdalen College, pronounced Maudlin college.” He won’t
even let me mispronounce a word in my mind!
I’ll write
again tomorrow - and you be taking care of yourself-
Love
Lydia[9]
[1]
Lydia did an experiment sending mail by four different methods: Vmail, Air Vmail,
Airmail, and regular post.
[2]
Postmarked 26 Feb 1945. Addressed to: Lt. R. B. Richert 02071698; 99th
Bm Gr., 346 Bm Sq.; APO 520, c/o P.M. N.Y.C.
[3]
Robert and Lydia’s brother.
[4]
Hubert’s wife.
[5] In
the current era, it is quite easy to purchase a cake from any grocery store,
but at this time, not only would that be rare, the food rationing during the
war would have made this an extra special home-made treat.
[6] These
are eggs from chickens raised at home in Fresno.
[7]
With the war, there was a large population shift to urban areas and resulted in
acute housing shortages. Price control was also instituted for rents to prevent
price gauging.
[8] It
should be noted that long distance calls were harder to place and thus more of
a novelty than today.
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