Wednesday March 21[1945 in LP's handwriting]

My sweet Paddy:

Today it is raining and snow again covers even our nearest mountains — just the tips of the very nearest ones, but those a bit farther back are quite white and very beautiful. The rain has stopped for a bit now and the clouds have lifted from this beautiful, quiet valley. I can even see our emerald hills on the other side.

I enjoyed your two letters very much along with the clipping and the x-word puzzle. These jazzy ones are much easier than the usual ones although I confess "unrationed butter" had me stymied for awhile along with "every fresh shrimp is __" I return it to you. It didn't take me very long yesterday to do it.

When I took Linda to the dentist Monday I looked at Vogue (Spring number) and saw in it the most the most wonderful and beautiful picture of T. H. Morgan. It would be worth the price on the magazine to have it. It is an excellent straight forward photograph of a beautiful, serene face. I tried to buy this issue and have asked Dr. Atkinson's [?] to save at least this one page for me which she said she would do. There is also a not at all good picture of Hubble with his pipe!

We are all well and happy. The children all have a weeks holiday next week. I wish I could do something for them.

I hope that everything is going well with you. Are you warm enough? Mrs. Holdredge [?] called yesterday and said she had sent mail to you at Denver. I hope it reached you. She said she'd given mail to Corey, Campbell and Dickinson. I said to be sure to keep a record of it. She seems to need a bit of assurance that what she does is all right. I'll try to help without intruding.

I forgot to mention that Arletta offered to stay with us as did Louise Jean. We get along so well, though, that I think it isn't worth the bother to anyone. I have slept very well and am not nervous. I have great confidence in Peter, too.

We all send our love to you, and give our love to Moe as well. Be a good Paddy and don't worry about us for we are all right. I really don't believe that you waste very much time in anxiety, however. That just isn't your nature — a good thing, too!

Don't eat too much Waldorf salad! We tried our Toaroa [?] soup last night. It was delicious but a bit strong. It tastes like oysters and clams. I have the one tire back and left the other front one to be recapped. The war news continues to be breath taking.

Your girl who loves you, Ava Helen

[letter written on blue stationary]

MonWednesday Evening Mar 21.

1945 [added later by LP]

Dear Rascally Paddy:

I was happy to get your letter today and enjoyed the story of the foxy Grandpa. I wish I had some of that cider. People surely like to take cracks at Southern Californiay [sic] don't they? So do I!

The victories in the Saar and Palatinate are wonderful. Patton does do spectacular things. I'm suspicious of him though. It looks a bit as if he waited to take spectacular advantage of opportunity created by others.

I'm writing with my old little gold pen now. Mr. Holling called today and they are afraid Mrs. Holling has cancer of the breast. They will know definitely in a weeks time. He wanted to know if they couldn't wait until after the war to do something about it! I said that delay in these matters

[page 2]

was always dangerous and that breast cancer was very amenable to surgery and treatment. I'm afraid even intelligent people are terribly ignorant of disease and themselves. Holling mentioned Dr. Sharp and I called Dr. McMillan to get his opinion of Sharp. I'll call Holling tomorrow. I won't mention sources of information, of course.

How are you getting along? What do you think of La Guardias [sic] disregarding the midnight curfew? Pretty low, isn't it?

I must trot to bed. I haven't been able to start to Zephyr. If it isn't raining tomorrow I'll use the Ford and Peter and I will try to get the Zephyr going tomorrow evening.

Good-night. Everything is going along well.

We send our love to you.

Your girl,

Ava Helen Pauling

P.S. You received a card asking you to be a patron for Relief for CzechoSlovakia [sic] - I signed and returned it saying yes. No responsibility involved.

Wednesday, 3PM

Dearest love:

Your telegram reached me yesterday - I'm glad that Liny came to stay overnight, and that you are well.

We spent the morning arguing about some matters, and then I went to lunch with Ed Doisy [?] & Mrs Doisy [?] and Deuel [?]. I had spaghetti parmigiana - pretty good - at an Italian restaurant, "Rioggio's."

I must check out now, and go to the train. Bill Castle from Harvard Med. will be on the same train to Chicago (he's the liver [?] principle man).

Love to you, darling, and to the children.

Paddy

The weather is wonderful here - warm and pleasant.