Monday, August 16, 1943

Grandma opens this letter by requesting more correspondence from my Aunt Peg and my Great-Grandma Shannon.  She says she nearly fell out of her chair when she received a letter from her best friend Marilyn.  Mom says Marilyn was always kind of an interesting character.  She and Grandma would be getting along fine then Marilyn would hit one of her moods and wouldn't talk to Grandma for months.  So, I can see why she is shocked about the letter even though it is her best friend.

She also thanks them for finally sending her driver's license, but she says Peggy obviously can keep the other dollar as her tip.  They also sent her letters of recommendation for the Yeoman 2nd Class test.  She must have a plan in place now because she sounds resolute about the situation.  It looks like she is going to take her test on August 24, 1943.  So cross your fingers again and we'll see what the Doctor can do about getting those well wishes to her in 1943.

Grandma Robinson gives us another taste of the nightlife in 1943.  She talks about the Coral Gables Country Club.  "The club is a beautiful place with the dance floor in the open and you dance under the stars and the beautiful Miami moon."  I can see her swirling around the dance floor in her Navy blues on the dimly lit dance floor.  Enjoying a drink, the live orchestra, and a few laughs.  Listening to the brass hum to her across the dance floor.  She really did love to go out and dance.  She found herself back at the Clover Club with a fellow WAVE and two Army Lieutenants.  She didn't sound very impressed, because she wrote more about when she got back than when she was out.  Yet another WAVE went out and got some hotdogs and sodas, and they had a picnic in Grandma and Marvel's room.  Sorry, the other WAVE bought pop.  Grandma drinks an onomatopoeia.

Grandma Robinson was going to close the letter, but then a Navy cruiser from the south Atlantic or the Pacific docks in the harbor.  The WAVES get to tour the cruiser, but she's anxious about the trip because, "When you go onboard you have to salute the Ensign (flag) and then turn and salute the Commanding Officer.  More than likely I will fall flat on my face or something."  She is so nervous about maintaining Navy protocol that it's comical.  She had another slip up with a WAVE officer, but the officer just laughed.  I still have my moments like that, but I finally realized that everybody else is way too busy worrying about themselves.  Her concern about her Naval reputation is commendable however because it shows how important this is to her.  The WAVES changed her entire life.

On this day in WWII history

Special thanks to http://www.historicalflorida.com/ for this one!