July 4, 1944
Tuesday Night
My Darling Frank,
How’s the swellest fellow on earth tonight? And I do mean you — Gee darling I missed you so very much today. It seems that I miss you more on special days like this than perhaps any other time. I always like to share my good times with you, and now that you are away, I can’t and I miss you so very much.
We didn’t do anything this morning, but this afternoon I came up here and went to Buffalo Lake with the McIlhaneys. They had a barbecue for all their employees and their families. There were about 85 or 90 persons there and there was plenty of food and then some. Joe furnished everything and it was all very nice. We all went boat riding again this afternoon. Joe and I.O. have promised to take me out sometime when there are just the three of us and take me for some good long rides. I certainly do enjoy going boat riding and I hope that someday we can have a boat when you get back. You should know something of handling one by then, don’t you think? Or doesn’t your experience cover such things? I’ll bet we could have fun, what do you bet?
[Frank and Louise did get a small day-sailboat, a "Flying Junior", about 20 years later when I was 13 or so which provided many delightful outings for the whole family. Later they scaled up to a boat with an enclosed cabin, and still later bought "Sanctuary", a Catalina 26 - I think - from the estate of Dad's best friend and sailing buddy, Father Don, a Catholic priest in Stillwater. It was from Sanctuary that Dad was flung overboard into icy water, in a hard gust of wind on February 10, 1996. He died 6 hours later of hypothermia, having enjoyed his beloved boating opportunities to the very end.]
Mother and Dad and Doug and Ruby all went down to Buffalo and carried their supper. I know Mother enjoyed it because she always does enjoy something like that. Buffalo isn’t very much to look at, it isn’t pretty nor is it of any size, but it is the best there is around here.
I just thought of the 4th we had last year. We were in Virginia Beach and you were at the base all day. I couldn’t even go in swimming because my bathing suit was across at Cape Charles. I saw Ralph Cocanougher that day as I walked down the boardwalk. Even though you were gone all day it was a nice 4th because I got to see you. I have tried to think what we did on the fourth the year before. I know that I got back to Elkhart on the 3rd after having spent 2 weeks at home here when Jean was sick, but if we celebrated any I can’t remember, can you?
I am spending the night with Sis tonight because it is late and Mother didn’t want me to be out so late tonight. This is about all for this time.
Goodnight darling. I love you very dearly and you are constantly in my mind.
Your loving wife,
Louise.
