More news from the family at 992 Washita

This letter is of some interest in that we find out that Frances is about to start training to be a Girl Scout leader, which would be a passion of hers for the rest of her life.  My mother (Monty) was also a scout leader, so after growing up with Frances and Monty, I'm one of the few men who can now sing every song from the Girl Scout songbook.

And if anyone can understand the meaning of her last sentence in this letter, please let me know in a comment.

Feb. 12, 1946

Dearest My Love,

Emily received her letter from you with the cartoon of the octopuses.  She enjoyed it.  You keep her delighted with your humor.

Today I sent you another package.  It contained some cigarettes, candy, jelly, etc.  I hope they arrive in good condition and that you can use them.  I went to send it "First Class."  The postman told me that I could send it "Special Delivery" and get the same first class treatment, and it would cost less than half as much.

In one of the Valentines I sent you I enclosed some pictures taken on Martha's birthday.  I am going to have to have some instructions on picture taking.  Also, there seems to be a leak somewhere.  I hope my movies are better than the stills.

You are certainly fortunate to get a chance to get some temporary duty at Nikko.  I am delighted you can go.  I know how you feel about returning to a place you've already seen.  As you say, tho, you'll be able to enjoy it more this time.  I will be interested to hear about your experiences there.

I mailed you two Valentines today -- one I sent by air, the other by ordinary mail.  They both were mailed at 5PM Feb. 12.  Let me know when they reach you.  Your chart of mail arrivals was most interesting.  I am glad you did it.  It seems characteristic of you.  And anything characteristic of you is just what I love.

I know the family gets tired of hearing me quote you on all occasions, but Emily and Monty and I just beam whenever we can mention your name or anything you have done.

I am so glad the days are passing.  I surely hope the time will fly by so we can be together again, my darling -- very soon.

Monty is on a waiting list for the Brownies and I am going to a leaders' training course to be a Girl Scout leader, so Emily can be in a troop.  At her school there are three Brownie troops and no scout troops.  Woe is me!

Today is election day for the unexpired term of Congressman Ramspeck.  Bryant got up in time to go vote.  It was the first time she's ever been able to vote and she was afraid she'd miss it.  Now that Bryant is up, Mother is in bed.

I'll be so happy to see spring this year.  It will be as welcome as spring would be in Chicago.  It has rained four out of five days ever since we arrived.  There are floods up by Rome, Ga., and the clay country roads are impassable.  In some sections of the state, the school buses have given up and the RFD men have had a time.  Georgia is probably on a par with Japan as far as improved highways are concerned.

Martha fell down on the sidewalk today and skinned her nose.  She surely looks funny, poor little tyke.

She is at the table-reaching stage now.  Yesterday she pulled a cup off the table and broke it.  A butcher knife, Margaret's clay, a tray of dishes, a pot of flour are all the same to her -- just something to reach and pull off.

Today she took a small glass of water from Mother Ki's table.  She started drinking from it.  Instead of drinking from the near edge, she tried drinking from the far edge, with the cup down around her chin.  The water spilled down the front of her dress.

We have enjoyed polishing the brass.  The two large coppery vases with the oriental writing on them are lovely polished.  They have a reddish finish instead of a bright yellow as most brass.  I am going to get a book from the library on Chinese brass and see if there are different types of brass.  One vase has  greenish cast. Of course, they may need more polishing.

Margaret has the pink eye.

Darling, you are my love and my life.  With you I can soar to the heights.  Without you I am nothing.  I wish the ** on your mail chart had meant the same things as they did on your budget book one time.

Love,

Frances

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Robert C. Word Ramspeck (1890-1970) was a Democrat from Decatur, GA, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1929 until his resignation on December 31, 1945, to serve as the vice chairman of the of an air transport company.  He later became a board member of Eastern Air Lines.