Waiting for April
Life is full of waiting, isn't it? ... And it's almost ALWAYS hard to be patient. (How much more so for those young & in love!) In March of 1942, Larry & Joy were waiting eagerly until their next opportunity to see each other. Sometime in April Larry would travel from Alabama to Kentucky, and also to his home in West Virginia. '29 more days' he says... another little eternity.... until the trip gets delayed even a bit longer. Life in the military means both routine and constant change- and it's never so easy to make plans to see your sweetheart!
I recently learned from Larry & Joy's daughter that her parents met in 1941, so by this time they've already been head over heels for about a year. Marriage would come a bit later, and there is some drama to come between here and there. Next time I'll share what I know of how they met, who introduced them, and more about the NEW batch of memorabilia I was able to purchase from the flea market vendor!
Hope you enjoy the four letters that follow- be sure to check out the song and movie links!
Cheers!
Leah
p.s. We're starting to get a hint of Joy's adorable temper. You'd better believe she speaks her mind! We don't have too much longer to wait until we reach Joy's letters; then you'll get a kick out of all the endearing back & forth! Her's begin in July 1942, and come in dainty, robin's egg blue envelopes.
3/2/42
Darling:
I received your bawling out yesterday I hope you have my explanation by now and I submit I had this “verbal beating” coming but I hope I have been forgiven. Am I? We were treated to an unusual sight here today, we had a snow storm and this is just about the coldest, meanest weather I’ve ever experienced. The wind is howling dismally. (Reminds me of Sherlock Holmes & Sir Conan Doyle.) Gosh it’s dreary here tonight. However there is one cheerful thought it’s only 29 more days until April.
No flying, this kind of weather the airdrome is a sea of mud. But I guess I shouldn’t growl the sun will shine again in about a month. I’ll be back in Paradise then. Incidentally have you heard “Must I remain a stone’s throw from Heaven”? It’s incredibly beautiful. We took a bunch of pictures yesterday if they come out O.K. I’ll send you the best ones. I saw a pretty decent show last nite “Son of Fury”. I see all Gene Tierney’s pictures do you know why? Well it’s a secret nut I’ll tell you. She reminds me very much of someone else (the only difference is: ) you are more beautiful than she, my Dearest and I love you. See?
I’m very sorry to hear that your uncle is so bad Dearest. Too bad and while I think of it (I’ll bet my letters are about the most mixed you things you ever tried to understand) Darling will you ever get used to me being so darned scatterbrained? I jump from one subject to another like a “hot grasshopper”. The sonnet was beautiful and double so since you sent it to me. I’ve found a few more entries for that scrapbook I hope you like them. How were those others? I think your Mother is a very intelligent person. She probably knows that if you were injured by one of those “hair-brained drivers” I would hunt down the guilty “one” and strangle him slowly, but completely. No darling I haven’t heard any more about leaving. Maybe and maybe not. Well I better quit now and send this. If you liked those clippings I’ll send the others next time. Good bye my Princess. I’ll love you always and I don’t doubt you, not when you dare me even. All my Love and a mere thousand kisses.
Yours always
Larry
3/5/42
Dearest Joy,
I received your letter yesterday telling me about the sad circumstances of your uncle’s death. I am very sorry for all of you my dear and I do wish I could be with you now (yes: now and forever) but especially now. And don’t tell me again that I am not interested in your troubles, because Darling your sorrows are mine also. Our lives and I believe our futures are inexorably twined together if it is to be a happy, or let us say a full, future. In order for mine to be complete anyway you must be there. So you see they are not your sorrows or Joys or mine they are ours. Please don’t think I am growling at you dearest, I just wanted you to feel that even ‘tho I am not there physically, I am always with you.
After our snow storm, the weather has become very mild here just like Spring. I certainly hope it stays this way. Well the way everything is shaping I think the furlough is real and everything will be O.K. I am trying to get 10 days. I don’t know how many more days they will approve.
Darling I have so many things I want to tell you, and ask your opinion about. I think this time is the right one to plan our future. Of course this may seem early to you but I think I can explain that. You see it may be the last time I get to see you for quite a while and we have a lot of plans to make. Don’t you agree? Maybe a bit crazy honey but this situation is beginning to look long-drawn out to me. I hope I am wrong. Those pictures I was telling you about came out O.K. They aren’t knockouts but they will do, I’ll send you some next time. Reed has them now or I would send them with this letter. Some of them are candid shots taken while I was explaining a "little football” to the “boys”. You will probably get a kick out of them, there are a few “gag shots” too. They are supposed to be funny. However I think they miss their point a little. Darling I must close now. I love you Princess always and completely. I am only living until I see you. Goodbye now my Precious.
All my heart,
Larry
Was the explanation alright?
Or, am I still in the Doghouse?
Even so
I love you always
I love you
I love you
I wonder why I like to tell you that so often
Anyway
I do
L
3/11/42
Dearest Joy,
I received your letter yesterday and was very happy to hear from you. You see honey I think someone has been tampering with the mail around here because they have locked up the mailbox and only open it twice a day now. So I was wondering if I had missed one of your letters. Honey are you worrying about something? Or just what is wrong? Why are you losing weight? Maybe you think I am silly to ask all these questions but you are the only thing in the world that I would worry about.
Things are just about the same here. The weather is nicer, it’s beginning to warm up. Darling about that furlough, I heard today that I would have to get it later in the month. Instead of the first of April it will have to be after the tenth of April because I must get in so much flying time and I must get it from the 1st to the tenth of April, after that I can get the furlough. It means staying away from you 10 days more and that seems a lifetime to me. Ten minutes away from you is much too long. I guess I shouldn’t wish away time but I do wish we were married and I was out of the army after I had helped finish the job facing us. Being away from you is becoming a torture which increases with each passing day. I need you my Precious. You are the only thing I need to complete my world.
I certainly would like to get into this war. I would then feel as if I were really doing something toward coming back to you, with the job being done, and then if you are still willing (I hope) we will hurry (and I do mean hurry) to that church you were talking about. Do you think you will still want to???? Well I must quit now and mail this pretty soon. But darn it I just hate to end a letter to you it’s just like leaving you. Darling I love you, more with each passing day if that is possible.
.....
This is morning again I didn’t have the opportunity to mail this yesterday and I am finishing it now and I must hurry. I am going to New Orleans this morning (getting in my flying time) I’ll be back this evening it’s only about four hundred down there. We come back before dark. I am sending you those pictures I promised. They, oh yes- I am a ruse ungrateful- thanks a million for that picture you sent me and as for that other picture in my bill fold, yours, will be the only picture I have, and now I carry your picture in my billfold and the other picture of you I have in my heart, and the 3rd picture is in my room. I wish I had a dozen more of you. I wish that everywhere I looked, I could see you. (Golly honey, does that sound like me?), but it’s true. Well here I am starting my 3rd page. You are the only person to whom I can write more that one page, and when I get started writing to you I just don’t want to stop. This reminds me of a very nice song, have you heard “I Don’t want to Walk Without You”? It’s nice. Well I must quit this time no foolin. Good bye my Princess, I am still your slave and darling don’t ever set me free. I love you always, I adore you and if you can’t find any news to write me, just tell me that you still love me and I’ll be happy. Bye again and stay as sweet as you are. I’ll see you soon I hope.
All of my love to the sweetest girl in the world
Larry
Saint Pats Day
Dearest Princess,
I just finished your letter and found out that I was late in writing you again. Every now and then I get our letters all mixed and I decide I’ve sent you 2 or 3 in a row and I am afraid you will think that I am crazy (I am, about you really, but I shouldn’t let you know it, now should I? HA). I should be spankin you, my pretty Colleen, for not telling me the reason you were losing weight. My Darling, Please do as the doctor says don’t you dare let anything happen to you. And Darling let me know all about it, cause my heart, soul, and body is depending on you. So you see it is a very selfish motive because my happiness depends on you living happy too.
I turned that furlough in today and it is for 15 days beginning the 13th of April until the 28th of April. Let me know when you want me to come to Kentucky. If you say so, I’ll go home first, then come back or I’ll stop when I come up, or any way you want me to. I realize of course that my coming at this time, will make it difficult for you. But the Officer-In -Charge told us that we better take what time we can get, now, because we won't be here much longer. I’ll explain more fully when I see you. If there was any way I could change the time I would gladly do so but Darling if I get off at all it must be now. Maybe we can even work out something I won’t upset any of your plans, but I must see you, just once more anyway before we leave.
Tis’ a beautiful day that Alabama’s havin’ today me Princess. I’ve been listening to Irish songs all day via the radio. Well I better mail this and not waste any more time as I owe you a letter and don’t aim to be late again. Let me know Dearest when would be the best time to come to see you. Remember I’ll be off from the 13th to the 28th. Anytime you say during that time. Well I must quit, after I tell you it’s you I’ll be lovin forever and always. Bye now Darling I do love you and it’s a flame that will always be burning brightly.
Always with all my heart
Larry
I remember that you told me not to send your letters airmail, but it makes me feel better and maybe they do get there just a little faster.
Love
Larry
Very glad that you enjoyed the pictures
These are so genuine and so beautiful. What a rich and purposeful love. 🥰