Thursday

[Apr 29 1943]

Dear Ruel,

I surely was glad to get your letter this morning; however it almost made me want to catch the next train back to Rosedale. I know it must be terribly lonesome there without Johnnie, but try and stand it for a little while. We are just now recuperating from the trip up here, so it will take a little "building up" before we start back.

I didn't get to write you yesterday. Mama made a freezer of ice cream and Howard and Ruth, Muriel and children were here last night. Johnnie had slept all yesterday afternoon so he was still awake when they left last night. I had to turn out the light to get him to go to sleep. He kept rolling over and getting close to me - I turned on the light to put him in his place but he came back over again. So he slept right close to me all night. I hope he doesn't develop the habit of sleeping with someone. I had fed him when I put him to bed and was hoping he would wait until morning for his next bottle, but I had to get up at 4 o'clock and fix it for him.

You should see him now - he just woke up from his nap and has turned over on his back and is looking around.

I've tried a dozen times to get started on this letter again. About the time Johnnie work, Mrs. Hartsell and their baby came in. You know she is the one that lives on the hill near the mail box. The little girl is 14 months old. She wouldn't let them stay long for she wanted to go outdoors. After they left I took Johnnie outside for some sunshine. He didn't like it when I brought him into the house and has been fussing ever since. - Well, I stopped to feed Johnnie and eat supper and just as we were finishing Evelyn and Quintine came in. It is now almost 10 o'clock. Evelyn took Johnnie on her lap and he went to sleep. He is sleeping sound now.

Mama had a letter from Harding and his picture in his flying togs. He took his solo flight Sunday and he was still thrilled when he wrote the letter. He started off "Put this down in History, on Easter Morning, 1943, Warren Harding Shinn piloted a plane alone". After Mama read them Harding's letter I read them some of yours. They said they bet it wasn't nearly as exciting as it sounded when you were trying to make all of those connections. It sounded almost like a "movie thriller" though. I'm glad you did make the connections and get there with Ruthel. It would have been terrible if you wouldn't have.

How is the cotton coming along? They haven't planted here yet. Hope it has been as warm there as most of the days here have been. The trees aren't budded out good here either. Onions and radishes are about all they have of any size in the garden here. There is a good deal of difference in the climate I suppose. I think I should have waited until it was a little warmer here to make the trip. Tonight is a little cooler than it has been though. Have the goslings hatched yet? They have a lot of baby chicks here.

It seems I'm running out of anything to write, so I had better stop and go to bed. I'm about to catch up with sleep, but I feel almost like I'm taking a cold tonight. Who said sunny Mississippi wasn't pretty good after all.

Love,

Mavis