July 7, 1944 Friday

Woods
Dearest Marjorie,

Well, of course, the main thing on my mind is you. The room we didn’t get left me a little groggy for a long time. That was really a mean break, and I had a hard time making myself accept it. I do wish I had been able to see the landlady battle-axe some more—I feel as tho I could have talked her into it again.

If this was a vacation or some kind of make believe I’d call it quits about now. But it isn’t. Your coming down here is a real part of our lives to me, and I’m going to take an awful lot before I admit that the thing is too tough for us. I still do not think it is—all we need is one break—a room to live in, and the thing is licked. We’ve come close enough to know that rooms do exist. Now we have learned that rooms don’t wait—the thing to do is to forget everything when you get a lead and don’t stop chasing until you are in the room with it all paid for. I’m sorry I goofed off and took a chance on the receipt for the room. Now I see we should have taken the receipt and at least moved some baggage in that very night. We won’t rely on a promise a minute more than necessary hereafter.

It’s like waiting for Christmas to wait for a room—your emotions tell you that everything is wrong and that you never will get a room. Reasonably, tho, things aren’t so bad—our income makes a good safety net so that nothing really big can go wrong. We can’t end up worse off than we were—you can always return to Keene and status quo—we’re just investing some time and money into making something better than that. And it will be better, too, Hon, tho it may be hard for you to see that now. I can see it very plainly—regardless of how this episode turns out, you and I will have shared something big. Just you and I are sweating this thing out together. We are a unit now, bucking a problem that is pretty big to us. We are bringing your world and my world together. You are learning something of the way I live and I am learning to consider you as myself. Perhaps it’s too bad that “our” team is starting off in such a tough game. We’ll get to be a good team quicker, tho, and learn how to operate as the “mobile” outfit we want to be. We’re going to have our cake and eat it, you know. By being a little different from the average, we are going to have a home together, but at the same time we will not get encumbered with domesticity enough to prevent our getting an education, doing things and finally tying ourselves into the niche we choose to be in.

Maybe this new world of ‘ours’ doesn’t seem nearly as comfortable and nice as the old one. Of course it doesn’t! All it is now is a framework with a lot of rough edges. We’re in it to put on the finishing touches. Remember that foundation we built when we were engaged? –Of understanding and tolerance and love? Now we’re married and have the first important beams all up. It will be drafty until we finish it up some more, but look at the prospects. All the elements are here to make a much better world for us than either of us has ever seen—and think of the fun we can have making it the way we want it. Don’t let the newness or the bareness fool you, Hon, it’s the start of a wonderful place.

Oh, out here everything is very much as usual. I got a letter from the Colonel about that time he said my platoon was not on the alert, and maybe I’ll get a week’s restriction the way Lt. Fairbairn did. I’m mad about it because I know I haven’t done anything more amiss than he had, either. We’ll see, there’s nothing definite as to when it will be yet. Otherwise, everything is under control. I am healthy and vigorous, and love you more than I ever have. I want you to eat a lot, drink a lot, and be a rip-roarin’ Texan when I get back.

All yours, always,
Wallace

P.S. Have no mercy on the checking account. What you want, get.
Love, Wallace


[a postcard from Marjorie to Wallace]

July 7, 1944 Friday a.m.
Hello, Honey,

Want to keep you posted on your wife’s doings, etc. Went up to Terry’s yesterday a.m.—got my money back, but I may move in Mon. Her brother and wife may come this weekend. This is her proposition now—how does it sound to you? She wants an understanding verbally that we’re renting it by the nite, but she’ll only charge us what we were going to pay by the week and after all her visiting, etc. is over, we can have it permanently by the week. I guess that it’s just that she doesn’t want a fuss when her company does come and we might balk about moving out. I want it so much that I think I’ll take the chance. However, unless you hear more definitely report here first. Going to ACC this p.m. with Fredda. Think I’ll take Mus. App. From 11:30 to 1:00 Tues. thru Sat. $15 per course. Tell you more details tonite. News this a.m. that Ringling Circus had big fire in Hartford, Conn. yesterday—about 150 dead. Awful panic. Happened between 1st act (animals) and 2nd act (the aerial bicyclists-Wallendas). I love you. Be careful, Bunny