January 27, 1944

Dear Mother

Guess what I got thrown back in the hospital with the same thing: nasopharyngitis. I am not very sick just a runny nose and a cough and my temperature is not up just something that would keep me out of school for a day. But the flight has gone on bivouac and the hospital is the only place one can stay.

This will prevent my getting a watch; the supply will be exhausted by the time I get out. Perhaps it's just as well although I think that perhaps I should use a cheap watch and you should war bond your money. My pocket watch has been incapacitated since my arrival, dust, I think. I haven't tried getting it fixed

February 2, 1944

Here it as been almost a week since I wrote you I've been very lazy. I have read and read three books a day and I have conceived a liking for Somerset Maugham.

I'm going to give Pete enough money for a bond. I've saved sixty bucks now, but I'm always liable to wires for more so I can get home on a furlough. I don't have any idea how much it will cost nothing if I can hop a bomber, $25 via the illegal taxi system, probably more via train. Time is the most important factor.

I'm having my usual (at least in Texas) trouble getting rid of the cold. Also my acne is getting worse and worse. I'm going to see what the hospital will do about it. I'll have to get it cleared up before I can think about coming home.

I don't like this transparent paper. It's to confusing trying to read both sides of the sheet at once.

It was very sweet of you to augment my $10 to the magnificent sum of the price of a $50 bond. But at least we're keeping our money in the family.

I've almost exhausted the hospital library of the books I want to read. By the way, I ran across a Grey Lady who has just about the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. She has a wonderful soft southern accent, not at all like the horrible drawl I hear here. From Tennessee, I think she said. I talked to her only three minutes or so, but I'm going to try to talk with her again. Anyway I see that I ought to investigate the South before I marry. Such a voice would be not at all hard to live with. I expect that this woman has an excellent up bringing I can't believe that the whole state speaks the way she does. Grammar has a lot to do with it for some reason Texans cultivate atrocious language. Perhaps all this diatribe of mine is caused by the fact that for the first time in my life I'm not surrounded by a select group of reasonable intelligence. (Is diatribe the correct word? I mean my expansive outburst of criticism and name calling)

Anyway My love to you all.

Linus