Evansville, IN
February 26, 1931
Deal Al,
Just some more of Elma’s scribbling and scratching to bring happenings and blueness and most of all some of tonight’s kisses to you.
Well Al, tonight Oscar and Marie have company, Ted and Mary are here and they are playing cards. Mom and dad went over to Puths with Kerns and Kolders and Mayse they’re going to have some music. I first thought I’d have to take them but they rode with Kerns and I was glad of it for it seems I can’t take enough interest in anything or anyone to care for any place or do anything in particular. I go from one thing to to another starting a whole lot but finishing none it seems. This evening I tried to work one of our tea towels while the rest were in the card game but Al the longer I kept at it the less I got done for I just couldn’t do a thing but keep thinking of Al wondering if Al would have to stay away much longer and what Al was doing tonight if he had gone to bed already and if he was as lonesome as I or still more lonesome all by himself, wishing I was with him tonight until I just laid down my work and started to write some more of the blues away.
The rest were all working outside today and I had ripped and washed two old wool coats and started to sew them together and make a wool quilt or comforter, it looks nice and Al I bet we’ll keep pretty hot under it don’t you think. Well anyway, mom brought one of your letters in and waited until I opened it and when I started to laugh she wanted to know what it was all about and I showed her Ossie’s letter she thought it was pretty good. She told me she was going to start praying that you would be stationed closer home. She don’t like this far away business. But Al I’m not going to worry so much about it. Hard telling where you might be by your vacation time ain’t it so Al. Hope it is right back here in Evansville and you wait until fall to take your week off then we can go away together and come back again and stay here. Al if you don’t get transferred before Easter I’m coming up to see you then won’t that be real then I’ll bring you a whole load of kisses and take a whole load back home won’t I Al.
After I kissed your letter goodbye last night I went to bed and spent the most restless night I had since you’re gone Al. Woke up dreaming a dozen times or more and the rest of the time I rolled from one side to the other. Guess I didn’t wake up enough to realize you were so far away thought you had to be as close as you were the night before you left. Well anyway woke up this morning more tired than when I went to bed. Try to do better tonight I guess.
Your brother across the way was some place on a trip yesterday and today I don’t know where thought first he came to see you. Dad was over there this evening a little after he came home he said he spoke of being at Terra Haute and mom and dad just come home and said Kerns said he went along to take a prisoner to Michigan City so that’s that.
Well I guess I’ll have to quit and go to bed for the company’s all gone and the rest are all home and I’ll be too big a sinner if I keep on eating orange and bananas and pretzels that they have here on the table. I’m celebrating Lent. I started out fasting pretty strict, lasted until tonight. But don’t believe I could’ve kept it up any how like that. Did you get your Courier already Al? If not they’re going to dedicate the Mead Johnson Terminal tomorrow Ray has to play. Well Al here goes all the love and kisses I can send and an extra hug and kiss for Saturday and Sunday. Goodnight Al.
Elma. X
All are well hope you are taking care of yourself.
I don’t know about you, but I love the fancy, pink paper. It is not as easy to scan, but it looks nice.
As usual, so much to cover in this letter.
First, Ted and Mary. Ted, Theodore, was Oscar’s older brother by two years. He would have been about 27 .here. He and Mary would go on to have five kids.
All the names she mentions were likely westside German families. The Kerns were cousins. Mayses have a farm market down on St. Joe, north of Diamond Avenue. I couldn’t track down Kolders or Puths.
What I did find out was that the Mead Johnson terminal, is still over the Ohio River. Built in 1931, the complex is located at 1830 W. Ohio Street in Evansville.
thttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead_Johnson_River-Rail-Truck_Terminal_and_Warehouse.
