Postcrossing: US1273633

My second postcrossing postcard - a self portrait as the Countess Dolingen of Gratz (an obscure vampire of gothic horror literature). I printed the photo then embellished it with rubber stamps in black and silver ink. The postcard is going to a self-described 12 year old "goth princess" in Florida.

Postcrossing: US1255759

My first contribution to the Postcrossing project! My goal is to do all handmade postcards - for this postcard I chopped up one of my Hortense and Millicent prints and re-ordered it randomly to make a photo collage. This postcard went to a young lady in Minsk, Belarus.

If you love snail mail and postcards you can sign up for postcrossing here:
https://www.postcrossing.com/

George's Letters: 2-25-1943

Dear George,


   Since there is a lull in our work right now and the Navy Insp. doesn't need his pen, I'll try and get a few lines written to you.
   How have you been? Fine, I hope! Me, well, since I got over my spell of the flu, I have been rather tired but feel real good. The nurse told me that I had "(illegible word)-Malaria fever". That is, I eat well, sleep well, but I'm too darned lazy to work. Ha! Ha! Now you know what is wrong with you! No kidding, I honestly believe I'm getting spring fever. We have had a lot of nice sunshiny days with mud and everything else mixed in with it and most of the ice and snow is gone, but the ice on the river hasn't started to go out yet or even to break up.
   Well, I'm back again. I had to get up and go talk to one of the guards. He sure is cute. Red-headed, freckles and brown eyes. About 6 ft tall and not over 21 if he is even that old. Now don't get any ideas! Jim Barnett by name. Do you know him?
   Gee, this place sure is a mess. They are moving the whole plant around and maybe by next X-mas they will be all settled. Our department will either be moved out the back door or up in the front offices. Ha! Ha! They even have to rewire the joint from one end to the other. Now they are building some more bullpens for some of the big bosses. Well, I've got to go upstairs and wash my hands for lunch, then come down and buy my lunch before the crowd gets there.
   Well, lunch is over and I'm back again. Everything is quiet out here right now. We still haven't any work to do.
   Darlene and I went up to hear Ray Pearls last night and boy was he ever good. He sounded just like Guy Lombardo. His music was very smooth, even their arrangement of "Woodchopper's Ball". There was really a very good crowd up there and even some extra men. I didn't think there was that many men left in town or even the state of Iowa but I guess there is.
   This big city of ours was invaded by 400 army air corps cadets last Tuesday afternoon so now maybe we will have somebody to dance with on Saturday and Sunday nights. Of course, that is as far as it goes with me because I don't give two hoots about having any of them on my trail all the time, and besides they are nothing but a bunch of young kids.
   Mom is on her sixth week in the hospital. She should be home sometime next week if nothing happens.
   I got me a beautiful tan and brown slack suit the other night and do I ever like it. It is real cute. I'm going to have seven or eight more made just like it only different colors to wear to work. I just had a whole mess of clothes cleaned so I guess I'll wear slacks for awhile. Then too they are so much more comfortable than dresses or skirts of any sort and really look a lot nicer on girls. I'm going to wear them all the time this summer. They are as cheap as dresses so why not. I'm going to make me another suit for Easter. It is just as cheap to make it as it is to buy it so why not. Boy, will I be dressed up. Ha! Ha! I'll have to have my pictures taken in all my new clothes so you can see what I look like. Ha! Ha! You wouldn't even know me, as if you want to?!
   Gee, I wish you could be home with me for a little while anyway. No kidding, George, there are times when I get so blue and brokenhearted I could just kill myself; but then I suppose I shouldn't get that way, but I can't help it any. Every thing has happened in such a hurry and has come all at once, that I don't even know where I'm at or where I stand. Gee whiz, I shouldn't write things like that should I? I'm just plain crazy, I guess! I've got to end this and only pray for the day when you get to come home for a few minutes as least.


Good-bye for now,
Lots of Love,
Ethella


P.S. Write honey when you can. I'll understand if it is a long time between letters.


Love and Kisses,
Ethella

George's Letters: 2-10-1943

Wednesday, Eve.


Dear George,


   Hello Sweetheart! How are you? Fine, I hope. Me, well, not so good. I nearly passed out at work twice today. Boy, did I feel rotten. I feel a quite a bit better tonite though, thank goodness.
   My mom isn't home from the hospital yet.


Thursday
   Well, I started this before I went to bed last nite and I'm at now so I'll try & get it finished. I'm eating lunch at work right now so I'll write between bites.
   As I told you Mom isn't home from the hospital yet and from what the doctor says she probably won't be home for another three weeks. Gene and Donnie are both home sick in bed with "cat fever". You have probably heard of it. It is a form of the flu. Me, I feel better today, thanks. I'm not all out of it yet though.
   Say, you know what, I received the sweetest valentine from the sweetest fellow named Geo. E. Bargheart! No kidding, darling, that was the sweetest thing I have ever received, but tell me, since when have they started having card shops aboard ships?
   I haven't as yet received my teeth but then I suppose it will be Summer before I do. I can't have any impressions taken yet though because I have some (illegible word) that are coming out of my gums so I have to wait some more. Such a time. I don't see why they don't just take me out and shoot me. I'd be a lot better off and so would everybody else.
  Say, little one, pardon me for asking but did you have a brother named Clarence that was in the Navy? Just curiosity. Thanks.
   Well, this is Friday nite and so help me I'm going to finish this letter.
   I had to work until 9 last nite at the plant and didn't get home until 9:40; so when I did get home I went straight to bed. Now this evening, I've washed dished and cleaned out the icebox and sprinkled clothes and have some soaking that have to be washed and as soon as I finish this I'm going to iron. Oh, yes, I have a hem to put in my suit skirt that I got back from the cleaners today. It is now 8:30 and I'm listening to the president. Oh, I forgot, I have to wash and fix my hair yet too. I'm beginning to look like a rag picker's daughter. Ha! Ha!
   Gee, darling, I don't know what else to tell you. There isn't any news here only that my family have all improved a great deal, aren't out of bed, yet, though. It snowed this morning, now every thing is slick and clean.
   Gee, whiz, sweetheart I've got to sign off for now and have a swell valentine day. Remember you are still my valentine and I mean it too.


Lots of Love
Ethella

George's Letters: 2-3-1943

Feb 3, 1943
10:00 P.M.


Darling George,


   Well, now that I have the scrubbing done, and the house cleaned up, and the clothes sprinkled, and a story in a magazine finished, and two candy bars ate, and the supper dishes all done and put away, I guess I can take time out to answer your last letter. Oh yes, I forgot, I had to put the two small boys to bed and answer the telephone a dozen times and burn the waste paper. Gee, whiz, I'm not at all busy, or am I? No wonder I haven't written to you.
   I believe I wrote and told you that they took Mom to the hospital and operated on her. Well, she is coming along fine and will be home in about a week if nothing further occurs.
   Believe it or not, I'm the boss now, and what I say goes, by golly. I get up about 5:30 or 6:30 in the morning and get myself all ready to get to work and breakfast for five of us and dad off to work and the two small boys started on the process of getting their small chores done and ready to leave for school by 8:30. Then I work all day from 8:00 til 4:30, then I get home about 5:00 and help dad get supper, then I have to do all the work there is to do when you try to keep house and work all at the same time. I get up and do the washing and clean house real good on Sunday.
   However, I don't mind doing it as long as I know that my mom is going to come home all well.
   Well, it was 10:15 P.M. when I went to bed, so here I am again. This is Sunday, Feb.7 afternoon about 6:10 and before I get started to clean up to go to a show with my girlfriend. I have accomplished a lot today. I've washed, done all the ironing, cleaned house, washed and fixed my hair and got three meals. So you see I go at an awful high rate of speed. There isn't any news outside of the fact that they have rationed shoes here in the states. We are having Spring thaws right now. My mom is much better but don't know when she will be home. I've got to sign off now & get over to the hospital to see her. Good - by for now, my darling. With all my love to the sweetest guy.


Ethella

George's Letters: 1-21-1943

Geo. E. Barghart, S 1/C U.S.N.R.
U.S.S. Token
c/o Postmaster
New York, New York


Jan. 21, 1943


My darling George, 
   Well, sweet, I don't feel very well, but I don't suppose I should complain. I went up to the dentist after work tonite and had the last six teeth pulled. One wisdom tooth and the five lower front ones. I only yelled and bawled but no kiddin' darling, that really hurt. My jaws still hurt and now I'm absolutely toothless. Really, darling, when you come home you won't even know me. I'll be all fixed up and just like new. I probably won't even look like myself. Gee, darling, I'll send you a picture of my new teeth! Ha! Ha!
   They took my mother to the hospital this evening about 6:15 to be operated on tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M. They are going to operate on her for another gallstone that they didn't know was there until the other operation that she had for the same thing was all healed up. Any how, she is going to come out all right.
   I'm on days this month so now I get quite a bit done in the evening, but now I'll have to work harder than ever, but I guess
I can stand a little of it providing my mother gets well. (I don't even get to go anywhere but who cares I don't)
   Gee, honey, the company is having their midwinter party Saturday nite at the (illegible word), and I don't know yet whether or not I'll go. I sure would like too! I certainly wish you were here to go with me. Gee, would we have fun, but darling, I'll just pray that this is all over very soon and that you will be home very soon and then maybe, as you said once before, I can persuaded to be a bad girl. But I don't know. It all depends on how I feel then but I certainly know I won't feel any different then than I do now. Say, darling, my face hurts like mad and my eyes hurt and I'm just about asleep. Besides, I don't know any more news only the fact that I still love you and certainly wish you were here instead of there and that I'll be waiting and writing until you are.
   I've got to go now and hope to hear from you soon. Lots of Good Luck on your adventures, darling.


With all my love to my darling sweetheart, George Sailor , first class.


Ethella


It was only 22 degrees before the other morning when I went to work and it stayed that way for a couple of days. It is warmer now though.


P.S. I love you, darling


HISTORICAL NOTES:
The U.S.S. Token was commissioned on Dec 31, 1942 (placed into active service) and moved from Alabama to New York. The address change above is where George's letters are addressed until otherwise noted.

George's Letters: 1-4-1943

Jan 4, 1943


Darling George! Happy New Year!
   Well, it seems to me as though I owe you a letter. But you should know by this time just about how hard it is for me to get one written. I'm in a defense plant as you know all ready, Collins Radio Company to be exact. All we've done out here all evening is sit and talk and write letters. Boy, have we been busy! It is just one hour until we can all go home and get to bed. Oh, happy day! I'm in the shipping dept. and for some unknown reason we haven't had a thing to do tonight. I'm on the shift from 5 till one in the morning. It is swell to work those hours as we can keep our minds off those things that would generally bother us if we were home all evening. It keeps me from getting lonesome for you. Of course, I am any how, but I suppose I will just have to wait until this is all over before I can call you my own, then I suppose I'll have to fight a war all by myself to keep you all my own. I'll be so darned glad when I can kiss you again and be in your arms that I will probably faint or pass out on you when I am.
   I haven't been doing any thing of interest lately only working and sleeping. I don't get home from work until 1:30 A.M. and by the time I read the paper and get to bed it is two o'clock and then I go right to sleep and sleep through until any time between 9 and 12 noon. Then I'm up all afternoon and have to get all of my work done between the time I get up and three o'clock, so you see I really don't have very many spare minutes. I'm off from 1 A.M. Saturday till five o'clock Sunday afternoon and the only thing I accomplished this weekend was getting my washing and sewing done.
   Well, I'm home now and it is 1:40 A.M. and before I go to bed I am going to finish this letter so that it will get mailed tomorrow. At the same time I'm finishing up the bottom layer of a box of cherrie chocolates. Boy, are they good! Sure wish you were here to help me eat them.

   I spent a very dull and boring New Year's Eve, but I couldn't help it any. All of the kids that I ever went with are gone or else had dates so I went up to danceland as I usually do by myself and met a whole gang of girls and a bunch of kids from Collins. I just about bawled when midnight got here and there was nobody kissing me. Honestly sweetheart you will never know how I felt. To tell you the truth, I just don't care to go any where any more at all because I don't have any fun. I know I shouldn't talk or feel that way but it is the truth. I suppose you had a very wonderful evening. What did you do? Write and tell me about it. It is snowing and blizzarding and has been all day yesterday and is right now. Dad tried to teach mother to ice skate on the river the other day, but for some unknown reason she couldn't stand up. Boy, did I laugh at them. Dad got released from the doctor Saturday afternoon so tomorrow he goes to work all day, and the kids go back to school so I'll get to sleep without so many interruptions. (All I have to do now is hit Grandma in the head & keep her & the radio quiet and the neighbors out and the telephone from ringing then I can sleep in peace!) Ha! Ha!
   I went up and had my eyes tested and Dr.Stansbury told me I was missing out on half of my life so he sent me & a prescription over to Pigg's (could be Rigg's?) Optical Company and now I wear glasses all the time. They have pinkish colored rims and are tinted and non-breakable. They are very nice, only for the fact that they get awfully dirty.
   Well, my sweet little darling, I'm awfully tired and my hand aches and Mom just hollered at me to come to bed, so I guess I had better tell you how much I do miss you and how much I do love you and finish this for tonite. I miss you so much that I could just bawl at times because you aren't here. And you will never know how much I do love you until you get back here. I'll even be "persuaded", as you put it, to be a bad girl then, but not until then.
   Well, sweetheart, good-night for now, and good-luck to you on your journey and don't give up the ship, remember, I'll always be here waiting for you.


With all my love to the swellest guy on earth.
Lots of Love and Kisses,
Ethella


Excuse the pencil, my pen is out of ink and the factory doesn't have any.


P.S. When is your birthday and how old will you be? Don't forget to answer this as I want to know & it is very important that I find out!
E.M.




HISTORICAL NOTE: The reference to George's "journey" refers to the ship he was stationed on , the U.S.S. Token, being commissioned on Dec 31, 1942. From the Wikipedia page:


"USS Token (AM-126) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.

Token was laid down on 21 July 1941 at Chickasaw, Alabama, by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 28 March 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Charles Hunt Ross; and commissioned on 31 December 1942, with Lt. Comdr. William H. Harrison, USNR, in command." 

Here is a link to the full Wiki page for the U.S.S. Token:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Token_(AM-126)

George's Letters: 12-24,25-1942

December 24, 1942

Dear George!

   Merry Xmas! Sweetheart! This may be the day before Xmas but by the time you get it, it will probably be New Year's day.

   For heaven's sake, why haven't you written to me. I've just about went "Frantic"!!! waiting for a letter from you. Everyday when the mail man comes around I'm right there to see if I got a letter from you. Did you get the package I sent to you? If so, how did you like them and were they in good condition? I certainly hope so.

   I have some very good news for you. I started to work last Monday night at Collins Radio Company. I work from 5 til one o'clock in the morning. I'm in the shipping dept. and we aren't very busy right now. We just finished an order for spare parts for radios for the navy. These things go all the way to Africa. Any how, the five girls in that dept. work so fast that they can't keep up with us. Well, so much for that! Now, you know what I do all evening. I don't have to work Xmas nite so I guess I'll go to danceland for a change. I don't have to work New Year's eve, either.I don't know what I'll do then. Any how that is too far ahead for me to say just what I'm going to do just yet.

   Well, I'm going to have to finish this later, as this little war worker has to get ready to go to work. See you later!

   Behave yourself at that U.S.O. dance tonite, and leave those southern babes alone? Do you hear?!

December 25th, 1942 3:00pm

   Merry X-mas! For sure this time my dear sweetheart! I got the most wonderful Xmas present of all by getting your letter when I got home this morning. After I read it I went to be and bawled myself to sleep because I wanted to be near you so badly during the holidays. I couldn't hardly stand it while the girls on the assembly line were singing carols last nite. You will never know just how much I do miss you and I do love you until we get to see each other again. I'm glad that the package arrived o.k. and that you liked them. I don't know that it is just a good thing that you are not here. Boy, if you were here would I be the happiest girl on earth. No kiddin' either! Yes, darling, I hadn't had a letter from you for two weeks until this one I got last nite. I was afraid that you had all ready been shipped out and I was just petrified every time I thought of it. Boy, you sure have it easy, sitting around in the lounge like that are you (illegible word). How was your Xmas dinner? Fine I hope. Have you still got your negro to guard.

   Yes, my darling I knew what you meant by being persuaded but I was just curios as to know what you would say about it. Maybe I wouldn't be bad or at least not mind ii (being bad) if you were here to receive me for being bad. (How about it kid?) No, I don't imagine I look any different than most women when they haven't any clothes on. Maybe you do know and just are bashful and won't say anything about it. Oh ya! If I had you here, I sure would paddle you for opening that box. Ha! Ha! Darling, I enjoy your not getting me any thing for Xmas, because what you did do with your money was a lot more sense! I was more thrilled to think that you bought those two $100 war bonds. Darling, I'd have been very disappointed if I had received any thing from you then found out later that you were going to spend the money for war bonds, besides, they'll do both of us a lot more good.

   Well, now for what the old (illegible word) got me. I got two prs of the most beautiful pink silk pajamas and I proceeded to put one on and I'm going to save the other pair, to wear when I get to go on my trip. In case you are still in the U.S. or even home, I'll wear them when I come to see you! Oh joy! I can hardly wait to wear them. I got a lovely yellow moonstone ring from the lady I used to work for. A small wooden pin, a wooden bracelet, a bottle of "Tweed" perfume. Boy, does it smell. I put some on this letter so you can smell it. (arrow) The perfume is here. Have a whiff so you will know what I smell like. A gold soft chain necklace, a teddy bear pin, and a corsage of red white & blue flowers, nail polish and polish remover, and a real fancy sachet for my closet. Any how I didn't get the compact or the bracelet, so I guess I'll just have to buy them myself.

   Well, darling, I'm very much relieved that I heard from you, but I do wish that you were here with me. My sweet. I've got to end this now and go up stairs and get dressed, it is now 4:30 and I should be asleep. Any how, my smallest brother got an airplane that runs in water so me & the two boys are going up and play in the bath tub in the water with the airplane. Got to go now and please don't wait so long the next time to write.

   Good-bye for now, my dear darling, and I really mean it too. With all the love that any girl could possibly give to the fellow she loves. See you later. Sweetheart! 

   All my love from the bottom of my heart. If I had you here I would kiss you and love you to pieces. Lots of love,

Ethella

(written in margin at bottom of page)

The Xmas card was very cute and the picture was very good & sweet too.

George's Letters: 12-13-1942

December 13, 1942

Sunday Evening

Dear Darling!

   Hello, Sweetheart! How are you on this fine evening? Swell, I hope! I’ve still got my cold and from the way I sound I’ll probably have it for quite some time too. I sound absolutely awful and anybody that talks to me probably thinks I’m mad at them from the way I sound. Well, so much for the way I sound!

  I’m going to answer all of the questions in your letter of the seventh! Yes, I do have a chance to fall asleep at work, but why should I, when I stay home at night and get plenty of sleep? You wanted to know what a good girl was, well, I’m one! What do you mean, “you think I could be persuaded”? For your information I don’t do any dating at all! I have even turned over a new leaf! I don’t go to the Sunday nite dances any more. No, I don’t turn your picture around when I undress! I’m glad you don’t smoke, then that makes two of us that don’t! And if you make up your mind to it, you won’t either before the war is over. Please don’t change your English even though the rest of the boys do. Yes, we still have our snow and this morning it was ten degrees below zero. I still haven’t had a chance to go sledding or skating yet this Winter! But I will - eventually! Wouldn’t you like to know what I’ll be all set for with a pair of pajamas? Probably for a good nite’s sleep. What do people usually do in a pair of pajamas? Yes, darling, you pop up while I’m trying to concentrate (which isn’t often)! Well, darling, that is all the questions in that letter, so now I’ll start on the one of the ninth! Yes, sweetheart I dooooooooo enjoy your letters and I keep every one of them to read when I get down in the dumps! They are so much help, I just pretend while I’m reading them that you are sitting beside me talking to me and making me love you more and more. Which you don’t have to try very hard to do. Yes, you see, I’m a good girl in spite of the “butterflies in my tummy”. (I had to take time off to peel an orange. I’ve already eaten a pound of soda crackers!) I wish you were here so you could see how I missed you! I’m certainly glad you are interested in knowing how much I miss you! Sweetheart!

   Well, if I hadn't of had the good idea of bringing you (illegible word) to (illegible word) table I probably wouldn't have ever met you? Right!? I can hardly wait to show you what I intend to "collect on delivery", but I am afraid you will have to wait and find out. What do you mean, "I'll have myself convinced that I miss you pretty soon if I'm not careful?" You know I ---- well how much I miss you and don't try to convince yourself differently either! See!! If I were you fellows, I would find out from the commanding officer just what the penalty was, that you would get for knocking the tar out of those fellows that came in at about 3 o'clock in the morning and woke you up! Then I would "mop the decks" with all six of them! Boy, would I have fun! Never mind chasing them guys up over here, I got enough to worry about, let alone having a bunch of (illegible word) sailors around! What do you mean by me losing "a couple of pounds"? Goodnite, I'm down to 127 # now and I can't even keep my clothes on they are all so big. I'm going to have to start putting on weight so that I can keep my clothes on. I certainly would look funny without any on, especially, on the streets! Yes, I can stand the zero weather - those other four letters were going to Chicago and every one of them were to girls. Just idle gossip is all I ever write to any of them. Yes, I do think of only you and how much I wish you were here with me, as I wish I was with you. Yes, I can read your thoughts between the lines of your letters and I'm glad that they are what they are. (over)

   Little darling, I'm 16 yes. old. Born Sept. 22, 1923 and I'm 5' 3 1/2" tall, 127 3 , brown eyes, brown eyes, and (false teeth and a wooden leg! Ha! Ha!)(Yes, I'm "sweet sixteen and never been kissed!") Ha! Ha! Didn't you kiss me! More than once! I'll never forget the last one! Or the rest of them either! I do like the cold weather. I certainly wish you were up here for all the weather and not just part of it either! The church bazaar was a big success! Yes, I can read the hen scratching as you call it!

   Now for some extra news on the side. I had to sing two solo's this last week. One for church Sunday morning last and one for the Cedar Rebecca lodge on Tuesday nite. I go tomorrow for an interview out at collins radio plant to see if I can get on out there! I sure hope I do. I want to get something good for a change. I'll probably have to work nights but I won't care as long as I know I'm doing my share to help win this war. You will get your package sometime this week or the first part of next week and don't you dare open it before Xmas. Do you hear? If you do you will get a whippin'! I'm embroidering the prettiest white & red checked luncheon set for my aunt in Chicago. My grandmother is paying me the whole outfits. Oh, by the way, she got her pension this last week and boy was she happy. That is all she really lived for. My girlfriend got me the cutest (illegible word) hat for Xmas but I don't know what else I will get. I do know what I want though! I want a gold bracelet with an elastic band and a large round compact for powder. Not much, is it?

   Well, sweetheart it is 9:35 P.M. and I've been up since a quarter of eight getting this thing written and I've got my hair to fix and my nails to polish yet, so I'll have to quit for now. See you later, sweetheart!

With all my love and all my kisses,

Esthella

P.S. Gee, I miss you! Darling.

George's Letters: 12-8-1942

Tues December 8, 1942
Tuesday Evening


Darling George,
   
   Hi, Sweetheart! How goes it? Better than it does here with me, I hope! I’m in bed right now with a heck of a cold and a slight touch of the flu. I went from work over to the doctor and he sent me home to go to bed in order to save me from having pneumonia in the morning. The cold feels like it is on my chest or else it is going down there fast, anyhow, when my mother gets through with me tonite there won’t be any chance for a cold to hang around me.
   My nose is so darned sore it is going to get up and walk off my face if I have to blow it much more. Well, anyhow, I’ve got to be all over this cold by Thursday of this week because I have to sing a solo, “The Birthday of a King”, for the Cedar Rebecca Lodge. I sang the same solo for church last Sunday. Everybody said it sounded swell, so I guess it will be all right for Thursday nite. Well, so much for that!
   You should be here with me. I’m in bed on the davenport downstairs (the davenport unfolds into a bed). I’ve got a pound box of miniature chocolates setting beside me, so I guess I’ll be filled up for a while. You should really have some, they are really good! No kiddin’! Either! My six yr old brother is laying here beside me and he also has a heck of a cold and he was home all day from school, however, he is sound asleep now.
   I went up to danceland last nite and heard and danced to (or tried to), Alvin Rey’s orchestra. They were really good and that place was just packed. Those King sisters are a scream. The whole darned orchestra was a riot. I’m getting so I don’t give a darn about going up there or any place else either! I sure wish you were here so I could enjoy myself again for a change. No kiddin’! I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed myself as much as I did those two nites I was with you. I’m not foolin’ one bit either!
   I went over yesterday and put my application in for work at Collin’s radio plant. My interview is dated for next Monday morning. I sure hope they put me on out there. It will be so much better than working at the dime store.
   Whoops! I had to stop and take a whiff of this “Vick’s inhaler”. My nose is all stopped up and so is my head. Of course, my head could be stopped up and it wouldn’t hurt anything else as there isn’t anything in there that works anyhow so it can’t hurt anything by being stopped up. Gee, my eyes hurt so bad I can hardly see, so I guess I’ll have to stop this and get it ready to mail. 
   Don’t forget to write an answer to these letters, little one. I haven’t had a letter from you for a week now.
   Got to go now. See you later! (I really mean it!)


Lots of love & Kisses,
Ethella

George's Letters: 12-2-1942

Historical Background: This is the first letter in a series written to George E. Barghart while he was serving in the Navy stationed on the U.S.S. Token during World War II. The U.S.S. Token (AM 126) was an Auk-class minesweeper launched on March 28, 1942 and commissioned on December 31, 1942.

The Letter Writer:

Miss Ethella Murphy - George’s sweetheart. A resident of his hometown of Cedar Rapids, IA. She is no older than sixteen when she writes her first letter to George.

Until noted otherwise letters to George are addressed as follows:

George E. Barghart S 1/C U.S.N.R.

U.S.S. Token Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.

Chickasaw, Alabama

Personal Note: These letters were brought into the consignment shop were I work, thrown in with a bunch of misc paperwork, cards, etc. Clearly I was under a sentimental duty to gather and organize all of George's letters and keep them safe. I cannot bear to see a handwritten letter tossed in with the rubbish - esp a love letter! I will be reading and transcribing these letters as I post them here so we can undergo George's journey together. I already feel an affinity for George, don't you? 

December 2, 1942

Wednesday Evening

Dear George,

   I get started on this letter, then I have to stop and listen to the radio and within the next two hours maybe I’ll get this letter written to you. Oh happy day!

   I got your letter tonite when I got home from work and I had to read it before I even got my wraps off and I just stood and laughed. I certainly did enjoy it a whole lot!

   What were you so surprised at; about me writing? I’ll have you know when I make a promise I certainly try to keep it, if I have to bust doing it!!!!

   “Butterflies in my tummy” means that I have a funny feeling in my tummy and usually something good happens. Every once in a while, though it happens the other way.

   What do you mean, “you feel flattered, you didn’t think anybody would miss you”. If I had you right here now, I certainly would show you how I miss you! No foolin’ either!!!

   Yes, I thought of the idea of sending you home “C.O.D.”! I do have some very good ideas one in a while! Believe it or not! (You should know!) What I intend to “Collect on Delivery” is to be kept a secret until you come back home to me! Is that all right! Will you be willing to wait? And find out?

   Honestly, little one, if you didn’t believe me about my missing you, when I write and tell you in every letter, I don’t know how I’m ever going to put it across to you! Please believe me! And I wasn’t drinking anything at all, I was sitting up in my own bedroom with Grandma and she is enough to make anybody feel good without anything to drink. And what I told you wasn’t any line that I landed you, as you say, it was the very truth.

   If every thing happens all right you will get a picture of me for Xmas. I’ll bet you have a lot of rats you want to get rid of!

   You know gas rationing has gave in, and besides it is darn cold walking a mile and a half home from town when it gets down to 10 degrees below zero. No kidding either! And besides, as I told you before, there isn’t anybody here I care to go out with or go home with! I guess I’m just too darned particular about the fellows that are left here at home.

   I have my washing all done, and I’ve only got four more letters to write and my hair to fix, but ah heck I’ll still be home for two more nites this week. (no dances)

   I’m glad all of these letters aren’t boring, I certainly don’t want them to be! You’re darned right about seeing you later. How do you know I can’t read between the lines of your letter to tell your thoughts, you know I still have the very lovely memories of our last nite together! And I’ll never forget it either!

   Now for some news around here. My oldest brother (17yrs) bought me a pair of black rubber boots, a pair of red fur bedroom slippers and a long sleeved powder blue wool sweater! Boy, was I tickled! I got myself a real nice fountain pen and an ever sharp to match. You see the whole family had been hollering at me for some time about buying a fountain pen because I was always using everybody else’s. Now, I have my own so they haven’t anything to gripe about now!

   Say, I’m running out of space and time, so I guess I’ll have to stop this for now and tell you that I’ll be thinking of you always.

   Thanks for the kiss, darling. I certainly need it. Heck, do I just get one? I certainly wish you were here to deliver it and many more. 

All of my family is o.k. and will be from now on I hope.

   We had a real nice Thanksgiving and a white one too! We still have snow and this morning I went to work in 10 degrees below zero weather. Boy, was it cold! It is getting colder too. But I like it very much.

   Well, my mother and one of the neighbor ladies just came home from decorating their booth for the bazaar at the church tomorrow nite. They say it is cold out doors, I wonder now?

   Well, little one, it is 9:10pm and I haven’t got my hair fixed yet so I’ll have to stop this and get something else done. Besides, you are probably asleep by now. Got to go now. See you later, and I don’t mean maybe either!

Lots of love and kisses,

Ethella

P.S. It certainly took me two hours to write this! But who cares, I don’t, so laugh as long as it satisfies you.

Tutorial: Vintage Valentine Frame Cards

You’ll Need: 

• Manila folder or card stock size 8” x 10”
• Vintage valentine card
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Metal ruler
• Bone folding tool
• X-Acto knife and/or scissors
• Glue sticks (I use UHU stic in .29 oz small and 1.41 oz large)

Optional supplies for more flair:

• Piece of plastic cut to size (I sourced mine from thrifted photo album pages)
• Masking or decorated tape
• Paper punch
• String, twine or ribbon
• Rubber stamps and inking pad/s
• Stickers
• Vintage stamps or labels
• A good quality pen (Pigma Micron 01, 03 and 05 in black)
• Asst scrap or found papers/wrapping paper/maps/etc.

Note: These will fit size A-7 (5.25" x 7.25") envelopes

Instructions:

1. Working on your cutting mat, measure and cut manila folder or cardstock to 7” by 10”.

2. Measure and using bone folder, fold card in half at 5”.

3. Measure and cut out center of front card piece. (You can use the center paper later for an address label or tag so cut carefully). Double check measurements based on your chosen image - opening should be approx 3” x 4 1/2”.

4. IF YOU WANT A PLASTIC “WINDOW“: Clean plastic carefully with a glass cleaner and let dry thoroughly. Measure and cut plastic to fit on the interior left side of the card (the backside of the opening you just cut) - if your opening is 3” x 4 1/2” plastic should be slightly larger. Using glue stick, glue around the inside back of the front piece. Press plastic in place and smooth with bone folder. (For added security and more interest add masking or decorating trim if desired.).

5. Choose a background paper. This will be what the valentine is placed on. Cut background paper to size. It can be as large as the back piece of the card or just larger than the window. Glue background to interior right side of card. Smooth with bone folder.

6. Carefully measure and place valentine on top of background paper on interior right of card, when happy with position glue into place. Smooth with bone folder.

7. You are now going to glue the card together to make the frame, using a glue stick trace around edges, close card and smooth with bone folder.

8. Decorate and mail or give! 

For hanging, punch two holes in top of frame and run through with string, twine, ribbon, etc and tie in knot at top.

 Additional decorating ideas:

Add stickers!

Decorate the back of the frame.

Use rubber stamps and assorted colored ink pads.

 Make a border.

Put vintage postage stamps on the envelope.

 Apply photo corners.

 Fin.