New York

11 November

Sugar-plum yourself

So junketing around California in your station-wagon again, eh? It's becoming quite a habit before long your poor children will be continually deserted while you cavort.

My trip over was not bad I found enough female passengers to avoid boredom. The trip back was worse with 2600 troops aboard I felt like staying in my room it was that or be trampled underfoot. And the weather was uninterestingly bad for 90% of the time not bad enough to be exciting, and we had only one day in which to enjoy the deck that was in the English Channel and it was awfully nice to see green England a couple of miles away.

The BABT stands for Brooklyn Army Base Terminal, and the OTD for Oversees Transportation Dept, I think. It makes sense, anyway.

I'm having a terrible time with the Christmas problem in fact I had just about decided to eschew gifts completely until Reba I got me started. As it is I'll have only one shopping day. She was very sweet and gave me a bottle of port for holiday season.

The prospect of this long voyage to India is as uninviting as one can imagine. Especially since we have little or no time to investigate the ports we put into. I'm investing $15 or more in books The Mirsky's emulated you by recommending Gibbon. And plenty of Russians, of course. My choice so far has been for short story Anthologies ( I don't know why that A turned out to be capital).

I'm also investing $30 or so in liquor to sell to the homecoming troops for 400 to 600% profit. The only chance to lose is if someone gets nosy and decides to be puritan and legal but I'm adept at hiding the hooch in fool boxes, etc. Some of the guys last trip made quite a respectable sum. My conscience doesn't bother me because the troops have been getting all they could from the populace of the country they were in, so they're heavy with ill-gotten gain.

As far as my Christmas goes I can think of nothing I need except shoes and War Bonds. The former only I can get, anyway. I think it's about time you and I started saving money for clothes when and if I can get out.

By the way, my $10 band is cancelled too much book keeping for the personnel of Paula.

I'm not certain that I'll be able to find presents for everyone; if I do fail I'll leave the situation for you. It's not necessary to be complete, I suppose, but it's nice. Did you see the article in the Nov. 10 Satevpost [Saturday Evening Post] about the man that goes around befriending Nisei soldiers? Apparently he's made quite a reputation for himself .

Well, mom, I'll probably write again before leaving. If I don't I'll write from overseas, and when I get back in the middle of January.

All my love to you and Dad and the little ones.

Linus