Thursday, May 27, 1943

Dear Ruel,

Today is such a pretty day here. The sun is shining and it is balmy warm - much too nice to have to lie in bed and see only one window full of outdoors!

I realized last night just how great a thrill you are going to get when you see Johnnie again.  They brought him in to see me and had to hold him off to keep me from picking him up.  You won't even recognize him for he has grown lots since I saw him last. When I said "Hey Johnnie" he put his face against Muriel and wouldn't look.  He finally recognized me though and his face lit up in a smile.  He seemed to know that something was different. When they told him to wave "Goodbye" he put out his little hand and waved.  Papa said he had been teaching him tricks. Papa also said he would have him to put on a show for me when we got home. I can hardly wait for you to see him. Really I guess I'm right mean to bring him up here and deprive you of the joy of watching him learn and grow.  Maybe you should come and get him and leave me up here. The way I feel now I'll have to gain back a good bit of strength.  I'm getting inpatient. The doctor said that I could go home in about 3 days.

Dulcie is feeling better today, however she still feels pretty tough. She is able to take some liquids. She just remarked that she believed she was getting over some of the soreness. I think she will begin to feel better if she gets the gas off her stomach and takes some food into it.

You should see our room - so many flowers that there is hardly room for them. We have as much or more company than we need.  Aunt Annie Shinn, Quintine and Evelyn were here yesterday.  Evelyn said, "Mavis, I believe you are looking better than I ever saw you. It must agree with you to come to the hospital."  You must know I'm getting along all right if I look that well.  Aunt Annie wasn't in such good spirits.  Stewart has to go to the Army June 7.  He and Gladys  and the baby are coming home Friday and of courses Gladys and the baby will stay here after Stewart goes. We said that Johnnie and Jewel would have to take a back seat now that Sony was coming.

I'm proud of those daily letters - a two page type-written one is almost more than I can believe.  I'm glad you are having such a good season down there.  You'll have to make good crops to pay all of your wife's doctor bills and hospital bills it seems.  Maybe I can stay healthy for a while if I get over this all right.

That four and five page letter doesn't seem in my head right now. I'm about to run out of anything to say and can't even think of anything foolish.

I sure wish I was home at Dry Bayou, Mississippi instead of this hospital.

Lots of love,

Mavis