Letter from Margee to Dr. Wilsey
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310.130.1-2.2016 Transcription
[The following is a letter written to Wilsey by Margee, an American friend back home.]
Feb 28, 1944 [likely a typo – was probably 1945]
Dear Dave,
Perhaps you can tell by the
postmark that I am in
Spooner, Wisconsin. It’s
in the field of unnecessary
travel but the trains come
everyday & we had no trouble
at all getting reservations
so I guess we didn’t do
anybody out of anything.
Tom is a remarkable boy!
He didn’t mess a beat on
the way out. He’s still getting
home-made milk to that helped
I suppose. & it surely is easier
traveling without bottles. The
family here (all mother’s
folks, & my favorite cousins
with whom I grew up)
are sold on the young man.
We’ve been here a week & ½ &
will be about 2 more weeks.
Then home by way of another
[2]
aunt. She has 5 babies. The oldest in first
grade. They are the sweetest kids. Aside from Tom,
of course.
The mail situation is a disgrace. Every letter
from Dad raves about it. We think one reason
is because so much transportation & personnel
are kept so busy so often safeguarding
Mr. Big. But I’d never blame you or anyone
for not mentioning a letter these days – I know
so many are slow or never show up at all. I
recieved [sic] your V-mails of Jan. 29 & 30 the last
day we were home – Feb 13th – so that’s not too
bad time coming back.
Yes, I think new mothers all must feel pretty
much the same. And it is a wonderful thing. Next
to being a wife I’d rather be a mother. They’re the
only career I’d ever want. & I can’t imagine
any woman feeling otherwise – they are both so soul-
satisfying – at least if one’s husband is nice. &
ones is. I’m so glad Em’s letters sound
“purrie” (a good word!). I havn’t [sic] heard for so
long. I don’t mind or blame her. But I had
worried for fear her worries might make
it hard to enjoy the little guy. And they are
so enjoyable with every day making a
difference & a change.
Right now R. is in Phily [sic] on some job or other
which will last another month & ½ - he gets
home weekends (when we’re there) at the end
of that time he’ll be reassigned somewhere
else & if he can’t get to us weekends from there
we’ll move to be with him. Leaving mother
but I guess that can’t be helped as she wouldn’t
[3]
have us stay away from our
Pa. ¶ We had a few hours in
Madison – saw one of my
favorite people & her 2 new
babies (4 months & 16 months old – with
their Dad in India! This damned war)
& drove thru Langdon St & over
the Hill. Made me nostalgic—
but I wouldn’t want to be there
again. Wisc. is a heavenly
place tho – no niggers – no waiting
in line – no pneumonia weather –
we’ve had blizzards & below zero all
the time but it’s crisp & exhilarating &
warm inside – at Va. it’s cold inside
& damp & miserable out. Ghastly place!
The middle west fer me.
I’m gonna write a streak to
Em right now. Wish I could
look in on her!
Keep your head down, won’tcha?
Best wishes from us all—
Sincerely,
Margee
[Margee’s Dad, who is a doctor in
England, wrote me that novocaine-
insertion is done on the xyphoid
at certain rest camps—but
why “rep” things four times, huh?][1]
[1] Bracketed text written by Wilsey at the bottom of the original.