Authors

Mary Metcalfe

Document Type

Personal Letter

Transcription

[Transcription begins]

4.

Feb. 27, 1944

Dearest Mommie,

Here we are back again. I had the grave yard shift this time so while I was away I slept all day and worked all night. It was really more interesting working all night. We would leave about 7:30 P. M., go to see Mrs. Chivvis, about an hours drive, and return home about 8:00 A. M.

Our mail was forwarded to us while we were there. Yesterday I received your letter written Feb. 3rd (yours of the 7th came one day last week) one from Uncle Bob, the wonderful tan gloves from Tantie which are perfect, a little long in the fingers but not enough to make any difference. Also another sassy letter from Bill Weld awarding me the Royal Order of the Hershey Bar + the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving his life + the lives of his apt. mates by sending the chocolate bars; also urging me to hurry + come see him in London. He says that before the chocolate bars he would have been glad to try to get me anything I might have wanted in London, but now he will go so far as to beg or steal.

Bibbie’s leave starts tomorrow so I shall have to stay put until she comes back. She is planning to go to Edinburgh. I don’t think I should enjoy London so much right now. There is too much excitement going on at the moment.

You were wrong about what you told Uncle Bob. If you will get Life, the Jan. 17th issue there is a very interesting map in it, + the place you are wondering about is shown there. It is the only place shown in that area so there can be no more guessing. Uncle Bob’s letter was so interesting telling all about his life over here. Also had a nice letter from Uncle Hugh.

We came back last night + our Lts. met us at the station. We got a warm reception as they thought we had been transferred permanently. We went to their house where we had a couple of scotch highballs (without ice of course) then we all had tea in the kitchen with Mr. + Mrs. Robertson, in whose house they live. It was a very nice evening just relaxing in front of the fire.

While we were away this week we had ice cream three nights in a row. They have a freezer at the hostel where we stay so we had, vanilla, chocolate, + strawberry. One night working where we were, we had all the Good Humor ice cream we could eat + that was marvelous, real creamy ice cream.

Received your letter of the 17th today. It must have come yesterday. I’m so glad you got my letter telling you how well my mail is coming through now. It is really wonderful to find letters waiting at the end of the day. Also received the News by the Peck (1) for January.

We get the greatest kick out of the expressions of the people. Instead of everything being wonderful as we would say, they say it’s smashing (broad a). Of course it’s aye for yes, ta for thanks and the best of all is when Mrs. Andrews wakes me up she says “Come away now, Mary, it’s 7:45.”

If possible (will you send me some more lined black leather gloves.) I have worn the ones Miss Lansing + Mary gave me almost to death.

The pet expression of the GI’s is “It’s rough in the E.T.O.? (2) I put these things down as I think of them, in case my letters seem to get kind of disjointed.

Late this afternoon Leslie, Bud Fuller + Ben Johnson came to have high tea with us. Mr. + Mrs. Andrews nephew, Andrew, who is here on leave also ate with us. We spent the evening up here in the sitting room by the fire playing bridge, reading palms, and listening to Macbeth on the radio. A very pleasant evening. Of course we had our usual 10 o’clock supper of tea, very thin sliced bread + butter + all sorts of good pastries + tarts baked by Mrs. Andrews.

Bud Fuller is quite attractive, tall, blond, very nice looking + lots of fun. Johnnie (Ben Johnson) is very nice though a bit juvenile acting. We do always have a lot of laughs together. Bibbie is very witty + lots of fun. Leslie is terribly nice but a bit too conscientious. She won’t break down + have a good time with us. She goes to bed early + doesn’t stay + play with us. If she only lived here with us, I think we could get her into more of our crazy activities.

I should think it would be all right to sell my plaid beige coat. I believe it cost $22.95 originally.

You never have sent me Davie’s address. If you will I can write him.

Would you send me a couple of Revlon’s “Bright Forcast” lipsticks or refills? I like the color very well + I only have two of them.

I can’t wait to get the red scarf + the gloves you + Tantie are knitting for me. I wore my new coat away which is so wonderfully warm. The red scarf + gloves will look nifty with the RAF blue of the coat. (If you can find a red flannel blouse) that would go beautifully with my battle dress. (Also send me a couple of decks of cards.) I should like to give them to Mrs. Andrews as a present. The cards they have are so dirty + beat up looking.

I should love to hear about Mimi’s plane trip. I wonder what it was that made it such a terrible trip. What else have you heard about Ruth? Is she enjoying where she is + what she is doing.

We won’t be working tomorrow as the Clubmobile has to be greased + oiled + put into shape. We have had a chance to get quite relaxed during the past week. It is quite a change from the dirty, manual labor of the Clubmobile, but I think it would be boring as a permanent assignment. My hands feel almost normal again having been out of the weather, + not washing cups all day long in the open air. It is a real treat to be able to wear nail polish again for a few days.

I must go to my ice box now as it is 12:45 and I must get up tomorrow + get some things accomplished.

Are you all over your cold by now? Don’t go catching the flu or anything like that. The weather being what it is over here, I should be immune to any kind of a cold by the time I leave.

Lots + lots of love to you + everyone. If there are ever any snapshots or pictures send them to me + I shall do likewise. There are some Bud Fuller took being developed now. Chichi

(1) News by the Peck possibly refers to Seymour Peck, American journalist for the NY Times

(2) E.T.O. stands for European Theater of Operations

[Transcription ends]

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