Sunday Dec. 26, 1943

Dear Mom,

Merry Christmas or rather did you have a merry Christmas?

The past forty-eight hours have been full – very full and to make the story complete I might as well start way back – back 72 hours ago instead of 48.

Thursday I took sick leave though I've been much sicker in my life and stayed on the job. I had a very slight cold and during the night Wed. had had slight chills and hot flashes with an achy back. Because I was sweating Thursday I didn't think it smart to go down to a barn[?] of a room that takes so long to heat. I'm glad I did because Friday the students weren't there and I felt fine and could work in peace.

I think I told you about the

Shower for Gladys on Monday night. At that time she recalled the fact that her Pete had not called her as usual on Sunday. She seemed low and we all came away muchly[?] concerned. Later that same evening, however, he called and word spread rapidly. We decided there might be a wedding after all but were again worried when he didn't get here as he was supposed to on Thursday noon. Gladys is the kind to tell absolutely every thing so that when he arrived Thursday evening and with the rock the dorms[?] all got the word. At noon Friday Gladys was showing her ring to every one in the dining hall and seemed very happy and many of us prepared to go over to the chapel for the four o'clock service. We arrived at the Catholic

church office a little before four – Gladys is a good Norwegian Lutheran from the mid-west but her Pete is Catholic. Well, we began the wait in a hushed silence. I could see the brides maid arrive and could hear her ask for the Father Tibisan[?] and then the door was closed and we waited. At four-fifteen one of the teachers went out to learn what she could – Mr. Light had been called out earlier – and she came back with the word that the groom had not appeared. Golly, by that time most of us were in a dither. At four-twenty the seven or eight who were to go in on the bus had to leave and the seventeen or so remaining sat around in the little[?] barrack's room until 4:25

when we saw a man with a flower in his lapel bounce into the entry. The poor groom had gone to Twin for the best man and the flowers and had forgotten the flowers which meant going back to town. Well, from there on all went well only I couldn't help wondering how a woman could marry a man she had spent one week-end with. The telephone calls must have been all satisfying at least, some one gets a heifer.

That was Christmas eve and almost enuf[sic] excitement for one day, but it wasn't. Allyne and I went to the PX for ice cream and the [illegible] soldiers we saw were sentimentally drunk at an early hour. Some of the girls here felt sorry for them because they were away from

home, etc., but [illegible] so even[?] the old maids and they were having a party and fun.

Our party didn't begin until late and then all we had time for was a recording of Dickens' "Christmas Carol" and ice cream with fruit cake. Allyne was taking us to midnight services in her car but a third of the way there she had a flat tire. Isn't that [illegible] on a rainy night? Services, Episcopal and high, didn't begin until late i.e. about 11:20 so that was all right. As far as I was concerned though, it wasn't all night that they lasted until 1:30 and then we had to wait. It was two before I got home. I'm glad I saw the bishop and two Japanese ministers in all their regalia attended [illegible] acolites[sic] and altar boys, but

another Christmas Eve I'd take my sleep.

The dorm[?] had a Christmas morning breakfast in the living room, and we then opened our stockings and gifts. We'd exchanged names twice. One was for a .50 gift and another was for a .10 joke. It was a lot of fun.

Mr. and Mrs. Light invited Alice and me for dinner at two o'clock. Theirs is a very congenial[?] home – calm, quiet and contented – and we had a nice time listening to good recordings and feasting on turkey and all that goes with it.

To continue with the festivities Rakel Erickson, an elementary teacher from Minnesota, invited our dorm to her dorm to share her box[?] from home. The big [illegible]

was to have [illegible] lefse and pheasant sandwiches. We had the sandwiches all right but the lefse had molded. I was disappointed because I'd never had it.

I like the book, the compact and the soap and stationery. Thanks one and all! Dad's card even came before Christmas. In addition to my packages from home I received those should protectors from Jessie [illegible], a hanky and calendar from Miss Dosdall[?], and hanky and satchet from our librarian, and a sage brush paper knife from the Ruth who just went back to N.Y. My former assistant Mr. Hayasaka, the one for whom I've recently written a reference

gave me as well as the four others who had done like wise a beautiful shell corsage. I'm so pleased about it and like mine better than the other four.

I was going to go into Twin for the day today but decided it would be too [illegible]. I'm glad I stayed put. If only I had another day I could really get things done.

Hope all is well. My Christmas messages I'll either send or tell you about later.

[illegible] now –

Happy New Year

Frankie