454 12/17/1942 Helen Carlson to Sadie Erwin

Helen Carlson 1705 North 4th, Monroe, Louisiana Thursday, December 17, 1942

Sadie Erwin 1120 Cole St., Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks, Today I had the car and I was already to go downtown and had Jimmie already too and then couldn’t find the keys so called Elmer and he had them so I took my and Jimmie’s coats off again. Then Bonny Ross came over on her way to town so we went along so I finally got that letter of yours mailed that I had written the first of the week. I think the dance Saturday night will be loads of fun. Three other couples are coming over to our apartment first and we’re all going together. I know we will have a tight squeeze in our tiny living room and to make it smaller I want to have the Christmas tree up. I may wait but am anxious to put it up. Bonny is wearing a long dress and wanted me to too. You know she is the one who offered to loan me one of hers but I bought a new short dress. Anyway, today when she came over she brought along a lovely black evening dress with a velvet black evening wrap with an ermine collar. When I saw that I couldn’t resist it so tried the dress on and it fits me perfectly. Then when I put the coat on I really felt swell so agreed to wear it. Elmer is going to buy me a flower to wear in my hair too. We’re meeting so many nice people and I am so glad Hilda is gone. I like a person who is just natural but she surely is a big fraud. This afternoon I met Sarah in the drugstore and we went walking with our sons (with no coats on) and then we ended up over at Sarah’s house. By then one wheel was off from Jimmie’s buggy and I just couldn’t push it all the way home on three wheels so called a taxi and the old guy charged me 75 cents and it was only about ten blocks. When I got in the house I called the cab company and asked them how much it should have been and they said 50¢ and so I told them they better get together with their drivers. The army rejected Elmer’s raise but he may be able to get a five dollar a week raise. That will be swell but they were asking for ten. Well Folks, it’s almost ten so is time for bed again. I sure wish I could see you and as soon as the war is over that’s the first place I’ll head for. Love, Helen