Spitball Army

I stopped by the local Starbucks this morning because I wanted my first human contact of the day to be a mix of indifference and caffeine.

[Letter addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. J. W., 20 Block Street, Dundee, Scotland.  Return addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, E.D.A.T.C. A.P.O. 741 c/o P.M., U.S. Army.]

England
Feb. 23, 1945

Mary Darling:

Just a couple lines to let you know that I am well and getting along the best I can.  Dearest I only hope that you are all right and not working too hard.

I did not receive any letters from you today Dearest but I guess they haven’t had time to get here yet.

Have you seen any thing of Werth since I left up there?  Hirsch and Pete left today so you will be seeing them around.  I haven’t much news tonight Darling so I will just have to tell you how much I love my precious dopey wife.  I miss you more than ever since I was up there.  I only hope I can get back up there before very long.  Werth is gone now so I will have to wait a while.

Darling what did the girls say when you went back to work?  Did they want to know what outfit you were in?  I would like to go along with you some time when I am up there Darling.  Do you think I would be allowed?  Darling was the woman around any more that was up there at the house that morning?  I think you know the one I mean.  Do you think there might be a job for her sometime?  Would you [like] to have two on order in place of just one?  Darling what would we do?  I think there would be two very very happy people.

Did you write home yet Dearest?  I should write tonight for I have seven letters yet to answer.  I suppose I will be getting a few more letters from Mom before long.  I haven’t received any for a week now.  I just wrote a card to one of the twins.  I don’t know when I will ever get caught up on my writing.  I guess I will have to get you to help me out Darling.

Dearest have you been to any of the shows since I left there?  I was to one here on the base but I did not think much of it.  You know the show that was up there a good while ago?  About Germany invading Poland?  Tell me about the show that is on at Kings next week Darling, that is if you get time to see it.  How is Mom and Jimmy since I was there?  Tell them I miss them both.

Darling I am going to have to make this a short letter.  I just can’t seem to find any thing to write tonight.  I miss you so much Darling, and I hope I can be with you before very long.  I will be thinking of you every minute till I am with you.

All my love Darling and loads of kisses.
Your Loving and lonely Husband
Harry

The Damned Don’t Cry! (1950):

• Pulpy semi-noir of a hyper-ambitious social-climbing Joan Crawford that could use more heat and skin.

Everyone Says I Love You (1996):

• Including an Indian cabbie. And Woody Allen and Julia Roberts thank God they have talents outside of singing.

Daniel (1983):

• Disjointed, ultimately satisfying story of two criminalized American radicals (a la Rosenbergs) and their “lost” children.

Woman slides several ice cubes into her gas station coffee, turns to me unsolicited: “Too hot for all this plastic in my mouth!”

[Letter addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. J. W., 20 Block Street, Dundee, Scotland.  Return addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, E.D.A.T.C. A.P.O. 741 c/o P.M., U.S. Army.]

England
Feb. 22, 1945

Darling Mary:

Just a few lines to let you know Dearest that I had a good trip back.  The trip was all right Darling but I did not like it for it was taking me away from you in place of to be with you.  I got back in camp at just twelve o’clock.

Darling I did not have to worry about a seat at all.  I was the first in the car so I had my pci.  I hope that you got back home all right.

I received four letters from you, Darling when I got here.  I will try and answer them now.  The first one was wrote on the tenth but Dearest there was not much that I can answer in it.  You know now Darling all that you wanted to know in it.  I will see if there was any thing in the one that you wrote on the 14^th.  Well Darling by what you wrote in this letter you of been a sleepy head.  What was you doing, practicing up on your baking?  I would of liked to have seen you and the rest of the girls with the mouse.  I wonder why they stay hid when I am up there.  I guess they know better don’t they Darling?  I don’t think there are poor mice around here.  They eat enough candy and cakes to keep any one fat.  I am glad to know that you get to dance sometime.  You will have a job when you start learning me.

Well Darling I guess that is all I can find in that letter so I will have to start on the one you wrote on the 16^th.  There were two letters wrote then so here is the first one.  I think you have found out the answer to most of the questions now to what you wanted to know in this letter so I will not answer them this time.  I think you know what I mean, don’t you Darling?  I did not work very late the night I told you I was.  I will find time to write to you Darling no matter how late I work.

Dearest you did not keep me awake like you said you was.  Did you forget that Darling?  Well Dearest that is all for that one so here goes the second one.  I suppose I have answered most of the questions in it also.  I bet it was kind of quiet after all your company left.  Right now it is not quiet here in the barracks.  A couple of the guys are rassling like I told you and they sure are making some noise.  I am glad to hear that you are drinking milk instead of so much tea.

Darling when I said I could get along, I did not mean with out you.  Darling I can never get along with out you.  I love you so much Darling.  When I was up there this time was the most wonderful time of all.  I am glad that I was able to get there this time for I did not disappoint you like I did the first of the month.  I will try not to disappoint you again.  I don’t think I can get away while Werth is away, but I will let you know if I can Darling.

My precious I will write to you if I am so sleepy I have to prop my eyes open with matches.  Darling I did not mean it the way it sounded.  I know that you can cook Darling.  I don’t think you are dopey.  I think you are the most wonderful person in the world.  I thought that the first time I saw you at the dance Darling and I will always think so.  I will love you just as much or maybe more if that is possible Darling if there is some one else besides the two of us.  Don’t worry about that Darling.

That will be a very small kilt we will have to get, don’t you think so Darling?  I still think I will get a dog like the four we passed on the street Dearest.  I guess if I get one like that I will have to get the kind you want also.  Will that be all right Darling?  We might train the dash hound to catch mice.

Darling I guess I have answered all the questions.  If I haven’t answered them all Dearest let me know.  Will you Darling?  I miss you more than ever now Dearest that I was with you such a short time.  I would give any thing to have this war over so we could be in a home of our own, and would be with you all the time.  I only hope it will not be far away Darling.

Dearest will you get me about six more tablets like the two I got when I was up there Darling.  I should of got then when I was there, but I could not think of nothing but you Dearest.  I guess you know that.  I will make this a short letter Darling but I will write tomorrow Darling.  I will be thinking of you all the time, even when I am asleep.  Please Dearest take good care of your self.  I don’t want the wind to blow you away.  I am saying Good Night now Precious Darling.

All My Love Dearest
Your Lonely and Loving Husband
Harry.

Your Facebook post: I liked it. You liked my like. I liked your like of my like. You liked my like of your like of my like. Etc.

Thirteenth of 20 watercolor picture/postcards from the postcard book titled: “Official View Book, A CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXHIBITION, Chicago, 1933.”

This card pictures “The Chrysler Motor Company exhibits and car-testing track” at the 1933 World’s Fair held in Chicago, Illinois.

The accordion-style postcard book’s cover:

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011):

• First half: Obligatory Beatles history. Second half: Graceful portrait of a spiritual man.

The Avengers (2012):

• Thank goodness the movie and its explosions were loud enough to drown out the screaming and crying child in the 7th row.

The Five-Year Engagement (2012):

• In which two grown women have an argument in front of the kids, using the voices of Elmo and Cookie Monster.

[Letter addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, European Div. A.F.B., A.P.O. – 741, c/o P.M., U.S. Army.  Return addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. W., 20 Black Street, Dundee, Scotland.]

19^th February 1945

To
My Own Dearest Darling.

Here I am once again, and I am sitting here with Jenny Florrie & Iris.  Jenny & myself are writing, but the two are sitting singing (smile) there kicking up some noise.

Well, my precious darling, I received two letters from you when I went home from going off duty at four o’clock.  They were dated the 14^th & 16^th inst. [abbreviation for the Latin phrase “instante messe,” which translates in English as “this month”], so I will try to answer them both to-night.  I will start now darling.

I pray that nothing stops you being here in the morning.  I would probably be heart broken darling, but I do pray that you will be here tomorrow morning.

Darling you said in this letter you wrote on the 14^th inst., to get plenty of sleep.  Well I certainly won’t get any to-night, or may be, I ought to say I probably won’t get any sleep tomorrow night wither will I (smile).  That of course might be corrected, you might be the one that will fall asleep (smile).

That was very nasty of you to say that you would stand laughing at me when the mouse was running around.  Well my darling if you had of seen me I think you would have never stop laughing, I hate the sight of the dashed little scallywags (smile).

I only see Alex now when his crew comes in to take, I ought to have said release, our crew, but I will tell him when I see him again that you said Hello, I might see him at seven in the morning.

Well my darling it is a little after midnight and it is now the 20^th.  So I am sitting here hoping and praying that you will be here about ten, my darling.

Well darling it is now, gee darling I’m all mixed up, I meant to say that I have answered all that I can in that letter, so I will answer the one you wrote on the 16^th inst., so I will get started to it now.

No Harry I haven’t had any more letters from daddy yet, but mum gets her usual letters (smile).

Yes darling I knew what you were talking about before you drew the ([picture of a stick-figure man])?  Gee he or she looks cute, doesn’t it Harry (smile).  I hope it isn’t too long before he or she is at the age of talking & walking, do you darling.

Gee darling you ought to have been in bed when the rest of the gang were in bed (smile), but I would have divorced you if you hadn’t written.

That is nice news about Kenny getting a stripe.  He certainly must be having a hectic time across where he is just now.

Gee darling you say in this letter, that you can hardly keep your mind on what you were writing, well darling I think it is me that keep my mind on my writing, never mind the writing I can hardly keep my mind on this letter, it keeps wandering away, wondering if you will be here about three hours later than when get home off duty and that is about seven twenty, Oh darling I am hardly keep my mind on this letter.

Well darling that is about everything answered to that letter written on the 16^th and there isn’t very much news I have to say to you, as I am so excited my darling I just can’t help from thinking what wonderful it will be to have you holding me tight and kissing me, Oh darling I’m going to sit on your knee and I don’t think anything would make me get off your knee and I’m not even going to bed, at least that’s what I’m saying in this letter, but gee you’ll probably chase me, would you.  I would rather sit in front of the fire with you holding me tight, and whispering sweet nothings in my ear (smile).  Don’t call me dopey, you twerp (smile).  I would really like to lie on the rug in front of the fire with you, you know where we sleep darling, but I expect that wouldn’t suit you at all you will be wanting to go to bed, then after a little while I will be gradually falling asleep, probably you will have a hectic time keeping me awake, and if you let me sleep I sock you one right on the nose we have to make these few hours like days darling we’ve got to make them feel as if it were a lot longer than just a few silly hours darling.

Well darling it is now after one o’clock and it won’t be long until we are back in the ops room again, and darling I told you that when we are on night duty it passes the time quicker, well darling tonight, I mean the time that is passing just now, seems to be passing very, very slowly.

I think that it is about time I was closing up now, so I think I will say Cheerio and God Bless you darling, hoping you’ll be here in the early forenoon about ten or even earlier than that darling, in fact it would be wonderful if you could be there when I got home from coming off duty.

I love you Harry.

All my Love & Kisses
I love you with all my heart
Yours now always & forever
Your Lonely & Lovely Wife
Mary

B.O.L.T.O.P.

My hands smell of garden onions; the garage smells like paint; dirt is under my fingernails; the cat has been chasing lizards all afternoon.