583 5/10/1944 Helen Carlson to Sadie Erwin

Helen Carlson 1414 Cole St., Lake Charles, Louisiana Wednesday, May 10, 1944

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks, Elmer has gone downtown to buy a hat and Jimmie is outside playing. I’m going to give him a late nap today so he’ll be able to stay awake tonight until Elmer leaves which is about 10:30. We were looking at the map awhile ago and New Orleans is so close to our route on the way to Knoxville that it would be a shame to miss it. We could plan to spend our first night there. I hope to be able to leave for Tennessee by the first of July anyway. I’m just taking it for granted that you can stay and make the trip with me but if you can’t Elmer will come back to get us. However, if you go to Knoxville I think your trip back home would be nice because you could stop off at Columbus and see Frank and then stop in Chicago and see the kids. Columbus doesn’t look much out of the way from Knoxville to Chicago. Mother when I was in Kansas City I got a room in a hotel just a block from the depot. Try to get a room there. It was 3.50 for room and bath but well worth it. If you can’t get reservations out of Kansas City you are liable to have to stand up all night as I had never seen so many soldiers in all my life as there. I certainly will be glad when you get here and I hope the trip won’t be too tough. If you can only get your reservations out of Kansas City it won’t be so bad. Don’t think I forgot about you on Mother’s Day. I thought it would be better to wait until I saw you and then I can find out what you want or need. I have to iron a dress so had better stop. I hope you are feeling good, Pop. Love, Helen