Wednesday, June 2, 1943

Dear Ruel,

This is my last sheet of stationery and that isn't much with which to answer the two fat letters I got this morning - the ones you wrote Sunday and Monday.  One time an air mail actually got here a little sooner.  Sorry Mrs. Turner is sick, but she was fortunate that Ruthel and Mary Emma could be there. I suppose you worried yourself sick - so much rain is enough to make you do that without anything additional.

If you can get gas and can come up here it will be fine.  Don't worry if you can't though, for I imagine it won't hurt me to stay up here longer. If I'm down there I'll want to pitch right in and go to work.  I thought perhaps I would be ready to travel on the train around the 21st.  I really don't know how I'm going to feel though.  Lying here in bed I feel fine.  When I attempt to sit up tomorrow and to put my feet on the floor for the first time in two weeks, I'll probably feel pretty weak.  The doctor told me to come back to see him in about 3 weeks.  I told him I might want to go home before then - he said in that case to come in to see him before I started back. I would hate to do something that would put me back in bed again.

I appreciate Dr. Patterson's interest in my case.  I'm really glad I did not have the operation in Rosedale, though.  I like the doctor here and believe he knows his business.  Incidentally he is not married - Dulcie says she hopes he comes in and shakes her hand as he did mine.  I was nearer the door and naturally he stopped at my bed first - usually did not go over to hers.  We had a little something in common though - his home was in Arkansas and his married sister lives at Charleston, Mississippi.  Dr. Patterson must be pretty good - we'll have to give him credit for diagnosing my case in the beginning.

Dulcie is hoping she will get to come home today.  She has been doing fine since Saturday so perhaps she will get to come home.  Her incision is about the same as mine. We are going to charge a quarter to show our operation scars.  Get your quarters ready.

Glad you enjoyed the pictures.  They were not so good as I had hoped, but they give you some idea of the size of the two babies.  Stewart and Gladys's baby has them all beat - he's a regular boy.  Maybe we will get some pictures of all three.  It has been hot here for the last few days, so they have taken Johnnie's undershirt off and gotten him out in the sun.  I will be so glad when he can get out and get the cold out of his system.  A cold almost continuously for two months keeps me worried.  There doesn't see to be much we can do about it though.

You said that Tommie was in the hospital yet, but failed to say if he was any better.  I imagine that he is better though. I know all of that must be hard on Ella.  If Tommie gets better, I know they will be thankful.

I can't imagine where the ration books could be.  The only place I remember putting them was in the desk.  If I didn't put them there, you will just have to wait until I come home and let me put in a search.  I don't know how we manage to misplace things so effectively.  The desk doesn't help out as I thought perhaps it would.

My heart just came up in my throat - Johnnie was in the cradle pulling up and with a jump he started over the side.  Jo was sitting there to catch him. It would have been too bad had she not been there.  He starts crawling over me when they put him in my bed, so they can't leave him there long.

I hope you are feeling better there now and the rain has ceased.

Love, Mavis