18 January 1945
2000

Dearest Mardean:---
I suddenly realized that if I am to expect any mail I had better get some of my own on the way… So here is for a try before calling this day a finished job…..
I woke up about 3:00 a.m. for just a moment and the rain with lots of cold wind was having a great time outside…Little did I realize then that before the day would be over that Little Lindbloom would be wading thru it almost ankle deep and you can well imagine the oozy mud of Texas and the consequences one takes who is brace enough to venture forth into it or thru it…This is probably the bleakest and most dreary day of my lifetime and I hope that tomorrow brings a ray of light—be it from the sun or just a spiritual ray of hope and enjoyment.
I am planning on going to Dallas again next Saturday night and spent Sunday in attending Church there. It is a long distance haul but then I need lots of spiritual enlightenment right now. I used to never get lonesome but of late I’ve had more than my share. I hope I get to like this camp but for some reason or other I’m just like a stranger in the night with no hope in sight for improving the situation. Did you ever feel that way?
I think I answered all your questions in my last le5tter. Do you have any more by chance? I think I would love to hear a sermon written by you—Do you suppose that could be arranged? Since you attend so many church functions you should be shock full of gospel and relative subjects. I want you to keep me abreast with the latest new bits from Salt Lake City and any changes in General Authorities. I sent my Year end tithing settlement into Salt Lake the other day. All I have lift is my income tax for 1942, 43, and 1944. This will amount to about $80.00. After this is paid I’ll be ready to put two more dollars in the bank for safe keeping.
Have you heard from Hannah lately? And do they say anything more about moving to Cache Valley? I hope they do for I want to move out West too and learn more about how our good Mormons live. All this includes you so you are listed among the good—Hannah says you are among the Angels and I always believe her….
Be good and write real soon---This makes number two that I am ahead of you in writing….
Love and best wishes, Edwin

Sunday morn 9:00 a.m
In Dallas since midnite
27 Jan 1945

Dearest Sandi:
Who can that be? I mean the gremlin who has been carrying my mail around for weeks and weeks before using Uncle Sam’s organization-------
Anyway if I’m a boy you’re a child so from this point I’ll thank you heaps for another of your interesting creations of thought and mind.
Did you give me to understand that little me was included in your New Year’s resolutions? How nice and considerate!! What was the gist of the resolution….Once every week? Every day? Or just answer my puny ones?
Did I tell you that I’m in Dallas again for Sunday School – had a terrible time getting here –arrived at almost midnight. What a trip just o get a two-hour session in church.
Your treatise on Hannah’s ability to compose letters was interesting – Yours are just as interesting and composed with as much intelligence thrown in as any that I’ve had the pleasure to read.
Your actions are displayed in your handwriting as well as your presented thoughts, bet it would be lovely to have your proof someday anyway.
I was surprised at your dad knowing or remembering what goes on in Galesburg especially about things that happened after his departure. It is nice to know that we are being thought of constantly. However it probably is his business what concerns the welfare of his lovely daughter. So I’ll tell you the story and you can present it to him in your own version with whatever gloss you are able to give it.
Dawn---that’s her name – came down from Chicago as a weekend guest. She and I attended college together in Missouri. We were rather close friends and I think she loved me just a little bit. During our acquaintanceship I introduced her to “Mormonism” and our custom of marriage - Temple and etc. All this didn’t take so while she was at our home I told her why we could only be friends unless she considered joining the church some day. Anyway about a month later, while I was in Hawaii, she wrote and said the church was out as far as she was concerned. Months later she married a boy from Chicago. A medical discharger. I guess I didn’t really love her since I ate and slept and carried on as normal as could be.
Your idea on “nurse’s aid” sounds O.K. and the plan has a practical viewpoint to it. Nursing in some form or other is something all would should be acquainted with. I wouldn’t recommend any of the services other than “nursing”.
We’ll meet someday this year if everything goes by plan. About June I expect to get leave of absence and I want to spend some days in Zion. Hannah and Earle might be out there by then. I believe in the idea that if a person’s desire is strong enough any wish can be realized…Don’t you think so?
I’m looking around for a snap of me in my latest. Hannah should have some. I’ll write her and see if she’ll oblige. Did you say you had some of yourself handy?
I’m reading the “Gospel Kingdom” by Taylor in the evenings. Have you read it yet? Thanks again for your sweet letter and I’ll be waiting for more to come.
Lots of Love
Edwin.