Monday, March 5, 1945

I love it when Grandma says she doesn't have much to report, but then she types a page and a half.  Grandma and Grandpa are now that they have sent off the check to my Great-Grandma.  Now they can start saving for their leave.

"I suppose by now you got that check, Mother.  I hope that it came to you at a good time.  I hope you didn't faint or anything.  Bud and I have paid all our debts and don't owe a thing.  We have started on a budget now and are really going to save money, we hope.  We want to get leave and we won't be able to ask for it until we have the money to go home.  We are hoping we will have enough by May, but it might be later.  Bud's sister is going to be married in July (that is when her husband to be is to graduate) and they would like to have us there at that time.  I think it would be nice if we could.  So, it might be in July when we get home.  If it is at all possible for us to get there sooner we are going to come because we both want to go home so badly."

Well, there's some baby news, but definitely not from Grandma.  Beverly, Grandma's old roommate, who was engaged to one man, but then got married to another MIGHT be pregnant.  On the other side of the map, her husband is on a boat that will not dock back in Miami for 8 months.  

Bev's husband has gone back to Panama.  He doesn't expect to get back into the states for 8 months or more.  Beverly was supposed to have come sick about a month ago today and hasn't yet.  She has been having dizzy spells int he morning for the last 5 or 6 days.  She hasn't gone to the doctor yet to see if she is pregnant, but it certainly sounds to me like she is.  She is going to wait another week and if she doesn't come sick then she will go to the doctor.  They will give her a medical discharge right away.  I think she is a little bit scared but she doesn't mind having a baby.  I think she hates to leave the Waves."

Apparently, Grandma's ex-beaux has not been very gentlemanly.  Well, Marilyn and Roy finally had it out and apparently Gib (Gib, who's Gib?  I have no clue either) is badmouthing my Grandma!  The Gaul!

"Marilyn said that Roy was in Los Angeles for a few hours and she met him downtown and had a good old talk with him.  He is going to get a pass and come up and see her as soon as he can.  I was floored at what you told me Gib told the Geils.  I wrote him sometime ago but yet have not received an answer.  I would like to hear from him and from Roy but I suppose they won't ever write anymore.  After all, even if I am married I should think we could still be friends.  Bud doesn't care as long as I show him the letters.  In fact, he opens my mail before I do sometimes.  So you see, there is nothing I keep from Bud.  I just like to keep in touch with the kids and keep up on the news.  I hear from Laura all the time and Aileen now and then."

We shall see what happens when Grandma and Grandpa get some leave to go to Montana, and Grandpa meets the two non-gentlemen.  Also, Grandma would have adored Facebook.  

Grandma and Some of the Kids

On August 17, 1940

Monday, February 26,1945

Marvel and Tris have come and gone.  Marvel had to return to her base and Tris is stationed in Miami.  They were heartbroken.

"Marvel and Tris got here & she has already gone back.  They are so happy.  They hated to leave each other - but, hope this war will be over soon so they can be together.  Marvel looked so happy.  They both are crazy over our place & came over quite a bit.  I had a real nice dinner for them.  The night before they left Tris took all of us to the Latin Quarter (which is one of Miami's most exclusive & expensive clubs) We had dinner & danced.  They had a good floor show and we enjoyed ourselves to the utmost."

On the Montana front, it looks like Great-Grandma is going back to school to be a teacher!  She's already proven herself to her teachers.

"I am very proud of your good grades.  I guess it will be a lot better if you do teach and keep busy.  I'm so glad that your health had improved so to warrant this."

Grandma's taking some new strides as well.  She continues in her Lutheran lessons, and Grandpa's more than thrilled!

"I am still taking instructions to join the church.  The lessons are very interesting & I enjoy them a lot.  Bud will be so happy when I am finally in.  He thinks a lot of his religion."

I know Grandpa ha ulterior motives concerning Grandma's Lutheranism.  You can tell he wants Grandma to be a Lutheran so there's no question in what denomination the children will be raised in.  Did I mention my Uncle on this side is a Lutheran Pastor and that my Mom was a church organist back in the 70s and 80s?  Also, Grandpa really wants to get working on those future Lutheran pastor and church organist kids... just saying.  Little hints are all over these letters.

Before Grandma and Grandpa finally settle down and have kids, they lived it up in 1940s Miami.  They even attended a party at the Blackstone Hotel with movie stars and reporters.  I think Grandpa even made it into Life Magazine!

"Bug & I know quite a few of the kids in Public Relations & were invited up.  We met some leading newspaper men & some movie star but I'd never remember his name - have seen him a lot tho.  They took pictures upt here & of the party, which they sent into Life Magazine.  Bud got in one of the pictures (I didn't).  We don't know yet whether Life will print them or not."

Anybody know how I can crawl through Life Magazine's archives from WWII?  Anybody?ANYBODY!?

I think this would have made an AMAZING addition to LIFE magazine

On July 27, 1941

Monday, February 12, 1945

Grandma has the watch this evening so Grandpa came and spent the time with her while she writes her letters home.  She reports that they were both sick, that she is feeling better now, but Grandpa is still fighting a cold.

"My cold is gone now & Bud's is practically gone.  He doesn't have to work this week so he's going to sleep & lay out in the sun & try to get his pep back.  He has been working very hard."

She also reminds me how much happy they were together.  They still celebrate their month-a-versaries.

"You asked if we still celebrate the 26th.  Bud always gives me some kind of a present - depends on how much money we have.  One time it was a bag of gumdrops."

My boyfriend and I don't celebrate our month-a-versaries any longer, but it might be a nice tradition to bring back up.  Even if it just a bag of gum drops.

They went out for dinner and dancing for Grandma's birthday.  They had a lazy Sunday afterward.  They attempted to go fishing, but then lost the hooks.  They also cruised past a baptism in their little row boat.

"... we saw some revivalists having a baptism.  It was really something to see.  They were really carrying on.  I'd read about those things but never realized they wrote of they so truly."

Wouldn't that have been a sight to see!

On June 16, 1940

Monday, February 19, 1945

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!  I've never gotten into Valentine's day as long as I've been with my boyfriend.  I'd much rather worry about our anniversary.

"I heard from Mother last week, but no letter from Peggy, Just a valentine. They were very pretty valentines Peggy, so I will forgive you.  Bud gave me a bouquet of flowers and very pretty vase which is in the shape of a heart and is red.  The flowers were roses a sweet peas and some other kind that I don't know.  They were very pretty."

Marvel and Tris, Grandma's original bunk mate and her new husband, came to Miami for their honeymoon and spent some times with Grandma and Grandpa.

"Marvel and Tris came Friday night.  They got in too late to get a hotel room so they stayed with us.  We went out dancing Saturday night with them and had a good time.  They came over late yesterday afternoon and we laid out in the sun for awhile and I had them stay to dinner.  I made a devil's food cake because that is Marvel's favorite."

I believe Grandma and Beverly, her roommate after Marvel, had a falling out.  She's only seen her once since her honeymoon.  Grandma is still looking for her wedding present though so maybe not.  Her tone suggests otherwise.

"I have only seen Bev once since she has been married.  She is back to work this week.  She seems to be very happy.  Her husband will be leaving in a few days.  He is on a PC and it works out of Panama and only gets back tot he States once a year for repairs.  I haven't got her a wedding present yet, but I am going to get a blanket for her I think.  It is hard to get anything for her because she won't be setting up housekeeping until after the war.  I know what I will get for Marvel and Tris."

Grandma is definitely homesick.  She is anxious that Red has not called, whether she can get leave to see their families, and is desperate for news from home.

"I wish that we could come home soon.  We haven't any idea when we can get leave but we hope around the last of April or in May.  I guess it will be better to come when it is warm so we won't freeze.  Red hasn't called me yet.  I don't know whether he has gone through and tried to get a hold of me and couldn't or whether he hasn't come through yet.  I do hope that he hasn't come through and will get ahold of me."

Grandma doesn't know it yet, but they'll be home soon enough.

On June 16, 1940

Thursday, February 8, 1945

Now it's Grandma's turn for birthday joviality!  I am always so shocked by her age.  She's only 23 years old and yet she's already done so much!

"Here it is my birthday and I am now 23 years old.  It doesn't seem possible.  I guess the years will fly by now."

Grandma and Grandpa exchanged practical gifts for their birthdays as they might spend their money on going out tonight.  Yes, it's Grandma's birthday but the most exciting news is about Grandma's friend Beverly.  She finally got married, but to a completely different man than the one she was engaged to!  

"Beverly was married Monday night.  She married another boy, not the one she was going to marry and couldn't make up her mind.  She took a ring from the other one but has sent tit back to him.  She was married at the Catholic Church.  He is a Catholic too.  He is aboard a DE and gets in about once every 6 months.  He will be leaving here about the 28th.  They both have 10 days leave now.  They are honeymooning over on Miami Beach."

Grandma only goes on to write that she can't decide what to give them as a wedding present.  I was expecting more fireworks from Grandma. She certainly got into a fine fiddle a couple of letters ago.  I guess we shall see in the next couple of letters or so.

Red still hasn't contacted Grandma and Grandpa yet, and she hopes he does, but they are pretty strict where he is stationed.

"As yet Red hasn't called me.  I hope he didn't come through here and couldn't get ahold of us.  I hear when they are at the Port of Embarkation that it is hard for them to get out.  They are on call at all time and they don't grant them liberty.  I hope he can get to a telephone and at least call me up.  I would like to have him meet Bud and also I would like to see him."

And now I am going to leave you with the last line of this letter.  It brought tears to my eyes.

"The war news certainly looks good.  I am hoping and praying that it will be over soon.  It will seem good to be a civilian again and Bud and I will be able to settle down and have our own home."

On May 25, 1945

Friday, February 2, 1945

February 2 is Grandpa's birthday.  Grandma is throwing a small dinner party and making one of her favorite cakes: Angel's Food cake.

"Today is Bud's birthday.  I got him a pair of pajamas and am trying to find him a pair of decent bedroom slippers.  We haven't got too much money to spend, but what I do have for him I want to be nice.  I baked him an angel's food cake last night and it came out perfect. ... I am still so thrilled at how well the cake came out that that is all I can think of.  Bud helped me make it -- he beat the eggs and that is what counts."

Grandma's old roommate Marvel is coming to Miami for a short honeymoon.  Grandma has not seen her since she left and she is so excited to see her.

"Tris (Marvel's Boyfriend) is in town.  He is getting leave on the 9th of this month and he and Marvel are going to be married.  They will be married the 12th and come down here on the 13th for a short honeymoon.  I am anxious to see Marvel.  She is going to wear a long white dress, but otherwise her wedding will be Navy style.  The Chaplain is going to marry them and her Commanding Officer is going to giver her away.  Her sister will be there to stand up with her.  Tris's Dad is going to be best man.  All of his boyfriends are in the service and are away so I think its is nice to have his father."

I love how she refers to this type of ceremony as Navy style.  Grandma and Grandpa's wedding must have been in the same vein.

It looks like a convention is coming to town.  Not only are Tris and Marvel heading to Miami, but Red is coming too!  Now Red is Marilyn's brother and we all remember Marilyn right?  Grandma's friend from back home who is always sickly and ends up marrying Grandma's old beaux?  Red is her brother and Grandma is anxious to see him!

"I got a letter from Marilyn.  Red told her to tell me that he will be here in Miami a few days before he goes overseas.  I am so anxious to see him.  He has my phone number and address so will get in touch with me when he gets here.  I am so anxious to see him.  I have been a little homesick and I want to see him badly.  I wish we could come home soon.  I am afraid it will be sometime in May.  That seems so far away."

I am praying that they get to see their families and friends soon.

On May 25, 1945

Tuesday, January 23, 1945

Great-Grandma Shannon is still trying to like she did when Great-Grandpa was alive.  According to Grandma, she is living well beyond her means and needs to quit feeding everybody but herself!

"You are going to have to move from that place as soon as possible.  Also you will have to quit feeding everybody & his dog & quit buying so many presents.  Bud's birthday is the 2nd of Feb and mine is the 8th, but we feel a nice long letter will be a swell present.  Don't buy us a thing."

This a very short and to-the-point letter, but I learned one thing about my Great-Grandma Shannon today.  Our spending habits are genetic.

On May 25, 1945