| An exceptional relationship between mother and son, and the words between the lines that told how love and lives were shaped by the war. A great manuscript for the devoted reader. A true reflection, best I can type it into words for viewing. -Deb Barker
Agency Oct 8 1943
| LORING LETTERS |
| 3c stamp After 5 days return to H E Loring, 2525 East Main, R. 1, Ottumwa, Iowa. M. LeGrand Loring, S. 1/C, U.S. Coast Guard Warehouse, Kentwood, Louisiana, Box 119
Hi Sweet:- Thursday Eve Oct 7-43 I got your two letters today and now that I am finished with my work I am going to get a letter off to you. I have had a busy day and of course we’re in all day long just what your surprise is for me and whenever it is I know is good. I got up this morning and got all set to go to Batavia to take care of the lot down there and believe it or not it to me until 3:30 before I got it cut and cleaned. I think I got a ton of grass for hey you might call it after it was cut, but I think it must have been a ton anyway. I have two blisters on my thumbs and one on my finger were I used the grass clippers on my right hand and I bursted one blister and now it hurts. I had my dinner at 4:00 PM and after resting and while I got busy on this and that work at that corner of the living room where the downspout comes down and filled up that fool, check the drain on the north side and put in some plastic growth CNET or the cracks still looked large and next to the flashing, were stopped the train, rakes or leaves and then put some CNET on the south end of the living room by those windows east of the bookcase and tomorrow I will paint the flashing and fill some dirt in so that the water will run away from the house. I can only do my car and then ask the lord to protect the home against the things over which I had no control. I mailed a letter to you from agency on the way down with the money you asked for and also Bobby’s pictures, tell me how you like them as you won’t be writing to me after Monday for I would not receive any mail after Thursday. I would like to leave Thursday but am not sure that I can. I took out an insurance on the sidewalk so that we would not be sued for someone’s broken arm or leg while I’m gone $4.00 is cheaper than $25.00 or more so that is settled. I am having my dress cleaned that I wore down before in the car in it turned so green here in LA., And I am going to wear it again so that one of my others will not get so dirty and dusty. Yet I will be presentable if I have to get out of the car at the station or something like that. I am so tired and sore that I can’t hardly sit up and my left knee and leg from the knee down aches like the toothache. I have fried onions for supper and bobby had some fresh hamburger which used up my red points for the week. Tomorrow is my war state and I’m ever going to have another busy day for besides washing I want to mop the kitchen and bathroom floors and wax them, bath Bobby and take a bath and shampoo myself and wash the car. I will have a full day. Then the first of the week I start closing everything up. I will clean in the basement and when all the tools and close it uptight before the turned the lights of which will be Wednesday. So some folks don’t like you’re going to the McComb, well what are they going to do about it? I know it is impossible to listen to that fellow at the church down there. I got soured on him in just a little bit. As mother used to say about someone who discussed her “he is not fit to carry guts to a bear”. He is harmless and all that but I like to see someone in fact anyone have a little ambition and desire to do something that just sit. Tomorrow is the day for Rev. Booth to arrive as chaplain. I would like to meet him but don’t suppose I will. I will keep on writing to you each day until I leave and that way you will know how things are going. But I can’t expect you to write after Monday. I called King and Adams and got Bill Hampshire’s address it is 2028 East Main the idea as I had so much to do and wanted to get this job done before trained as Morrell's were smelling down here and the smoke coming to the ground and that generally means rain when you can smell them down here.Sure am glad Mrs. Carruth is feeling better and will be home when I get there. Meat and gas is sure a political deal and their scheme will not get my vote either. I have been around enough to see what is going on and monopoly is behind the whole deal. The country’s is just full of hogs everywere you go. One thing’s sure, the farmer has got monopoly just where he can twist old man monopoly’ s tail when he wants to. After a farmer meets is rent or taxes he can just about thumb his nose at anyone he wants to for he needs very little only for clothing and a few things, he has his table living and his fuel in the woods and he is an independent gentlemen. Well I am not sleepy but sure am sore and tired so I am going to take my dirty little pal and go to bed. I don’t know how he got so dirty today, he was a not out of the car, the yard is the only place that has been running around it, but he sure is one dirty little doggie tonight, but he sure is the sweetest thing on 4 feet. How I love him and spoil him. Can’t help it, my two pets are supposed to be spoiled by me. My hands like sandpaper from working in cement and dirty, they looked like they had never been washed but that will all come out with the laundry tomorrow. But there are so sore. I cut one with cement, caught in the grass clippers and blisters besides. So off to bed for Bobby and I. God bless you my darling and keep it safe for your mammy and little sweetheart. By the grace of god we will be seeing you before long. Lots of love mother PS the ride to Batavia, it was beautiful this morning especially out at that Barker place with the lake, the colors of the trees reflected in the lake and it was a sight to see. The trees are so beautiful right now in gold, reds, browns and golden rod, purple and lavender asters all along the highways. But it will be plenty cold after while howling winds and driving snows. So I want to be with my darling and let how.
-Signed Mother & Bobby | |