Spitball Army

Here’s my Halloween mix! he says: I’m Your Boogie Man; Jungle Boogie; Boogie Nights. Thus am I horrified by discotheque spectres.

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 10 August 1944 at 9 a.m.]

July 22 – 44.

Hello Ralph –

First I want to thank you for the nice big pile of Fore & Aft magazines you sent me.  Been a long time since I saw those and I do enjoy looking through them.  My boss here is an old hand from Yard #2 and he [pours] through them after I’m through.  He has recognized a lot of old-timers there.  Still going strong over here and hoping to see the States sometime this year.  Our conditions are improving a lot too.  Food is much better now and yesterday we had our first free issue of U.S. canned beer.  Boy, did that hit the spot!  I’m almost sure that Harry is up here within a few miles of us.  Probably won’t run into him though.  Had the day off yesterday, it was my birthday, so I took a nice boat ride and got some interesting pictures.  Say, am I getting old, 33 now! [Birth date: 21 July 1911]  The darned flies are sticky tonight, guess we might have rain tomorrow which is normal about every 3 days.  Well Ralph, write again and say “hello” to your mother.

So long now
Bud.

The e-mail tells me that the guidebook to El Camino de Santiago is waiting at the library. This is how the cash-strapped travel.

Card is addressed to Mrs. M.L. Tyer, McCrory, Ark. Postmarked in Memphis, Tenn. on Apr 16, 1954, at 7 PM.

Typewritten on back of post card:

You will be pleased to learn that your condition appears to be SATISFACTORY according to the cancer test made on 4-  -54

It is important for you to come in for a retest in one year: (month & year)  April, 1955

The number below identifies your slide.

Keep this card.

[ink-stamped doctor’s signature] M.D.

Slide No. 86093

Isn’t it obvious why today’s playlist is all about pie?*

Approximate playing time: 68 minutes.

1. Natalie Merchant  “Calico Pie”  (2010)
2. Earl Van Dyke  “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”  (1965)
3. Paul McCartney  “Flaming Pie”  (1997)
4. James Mason & Shelley Winters  “Cherry Pies” from Lolita  (1962)
5. Sade  “Cherry Pie”  (2000)
6. D’Angelo  “Devil’s Pie”  (1998)
7. The Beatles  “Wild Honey Pie”  (1968)
8. Neil Diamond  “Porcupine Pie”  (1972)
9. Jeff Tweedy  “Pecan Pie”  (1997)
10. Fats Waller  “Eep, Ipe, Wanna Piece of Pie”  (1940)
11. The Beatles  “Honey Pie”  (1968)
12. Norman Fox & the Rob-Roys  “Pizza Pie”  (1959)
13. Charles Mingus  “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”  (1959)
14. Allen Toussaint  “Sweetie Pie (Twenty Years Later)”  (1959)
15. The Jesters  “Ma, I Miss Your Apple Pie”  (1940s)
16. Prefab Sprout  “Blueberry Pies”  (1994)
17. The Bees  “Starry Gazey Pie”  (2004)
18. Bob Dylan  “Country Pie”  (1969)
19. Led Zeppelin  “Custard Pie”  (1975)
20. Randy Newman  “A Piece of the Pie”  (2008)
21. Don McLean  “American Pie”  (1971)

*It shouldn’t be.

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 25 June 1944 at 10 p.m.]

June 24 – 44

Dear Ralph –

About a week ago we finally arrived at our new destination so at last I can start catching up on my mail.  Of course the censors don’t allow us to tell where we are but I will say it’s not a bad spot although we are right up in there this time.  Plenty of air activity and I’m glad it’s mostly on our side.  Enjoying that good old jungle life again (ahem) and it seems we are kept busier than ever.  Hope this turns out to be our last job, then home.  It was nice hearing about the second front and now the big naval battle out this way.  It all helps to end the war sooner.  Haven’t heard from Harry, don’t know if he is up this way or not.  Mail service is terrible but no doubt will improve soon.  Hope this finds you okay and your mother feeling better.

So long
Bud.

Exhibit 2: The Beatles.

Wrestling with intangible tsuris at my desk: bills, job, future. At my feet, the cat leaps in joy with his tangible plastic straw.

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 21 June 1944 at 10 p.m.]

June 8 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Got your V-mail some time ago so guess it’s about time I answered it.  You will have to excuse me using a pencil but you see I’ve run out of ink.  We left Australia in the latter part of April and we’re still on our way.  Never thought I’d camp aboard ship so long.  At present we are anchored off New Guinea, in fact I’ve been working ashore for a week or so tending to re-loading our supplies.  Hope we can reach our goal in a few days.  I’m getting a good view of the devastation of war up here, shell holes, bomb craters, wreckage galore, etc.  This is just the start too.  Heard the news of the invasion of France [D-Day, June 6th], night before last by radio.  Sounds great to us and I hope they keep on rolling in-land.  Might see you by the first of next year.  Keep your fingers crossed!  Gotta close for now.  Say “hello” to your mother for me.  Write again soon.

So long.
Bud.

The neighbor’s cat saunters into my office, onto the desk, and paw-tweets an emoticon: [p\. Just in case his friends are online.