1918 May 30 - Decoration Day

Decoration Day 1918 (30 May 1918)

Dearest,

For some reason or other we are not supposed to work today - & this being war we have to obey orders. Germany of course doesn’t observe “Decoration Day.”

Paul & I went to town to get some “regular: food this noon – but this was meatless day – so we were stung. The city we visited is quite a place & is famous for something you can always use – but strange to say I cannot buy any here – they are all shipped to the U.S.A. mostly via Paris – where a great many are stamped “Alexandria.”

Paul was to take pictures of my room today – but some inspector came – so nothing doing this time.

You can’t imagine how much pleasure I get from my pictures = my corner of the room is the “Art Gallery” & every pic I own is on the wall – all you dear ones smiling at me. The three baby pictures I love best are the two Pratt pictures (one with fingers up & one with hands on legs) & the ones of she & Daddy where her “bunny tail” shows.

It seems a year since your last letters came – I do have rotten luck with mail, only four letters & a cable from you since march 11th – nearly three months.

P & I finished up the last of your fruit cake last night – it was bully & I hated to finish it but we get justly hungry sometimes. Chris & I just made some steric(?). Lord how I hate the stuff. It tasted good at first – but not any more. Next week our mess will be OK again, then oh boy!

Ger Ger & I are going out for our nightly walk up the hill – the view from there is wonderful.

Back again, we stayed until 9:30 P.M. & there was still evidence of Sunset when we left. It is quite light here until 9:30. The place we walk to is an abandoned (-2-)

French aero observation post & from there one can see for twenty miles I judge, in three directions, it is wonderful.

Being fire control officer is a busy job at the start – but I hope to get organized soon – when things will be easier – now I walk miles each day. tried P’s horse yesterday & he wrecked me – am as lame as blazes – hope mine has an easier gait.

We have a fairly decent crowd of fellows hear now – which helps some & soon we hope to have a few comforts – such as a bath for instance. Now we wait as long as possible & then go to town to the bath house – which by the way is very nice – shower, soap & towels – 1 Franc (douche, Savon et Esswic – main, as the French will have it)

Bye bye dearest, I love you & baby – oh so much, I do Jack