https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/little-blue-suitcase/id1577165575

Hello dear;

Just a few lines to say hello and make sure that you returned safe and sound from your time here in Toronto. I know dear that you have been home for a couple of days by now but I did not hear from you when you got back so I am assuming that you made it off OK and that you are back to work.
I had such a wonderful time with you when you were back home dear and when were dancing at the Palais Royale all I could think about it that this is where you belong. I am happy dear that you got to spend so much time with Donna and I think she was happy to see you but do not worry, the crying is something that she has mastered. I think that I am a little heart sick knowing what we will be able to do once this darn war is over and you are home for good.
But enough about that dear how are you feeling? I hope that you did not catch my fathers cold as you know it still has been lingering for some time.
I wanted to let you know that I received the $25 mothers allowance and that was really a nice thing to get. I think I will put the money away and use it later on when Donna needs some news clothes because as you know dear she is well of when it comes to clothes. I do not think that I will have to buy her anything for some time now.
Marg just came in so excuse me while I go say hello. Marg was just telling us that she has been having awful pains in her legs and I think that it is all the extra weight that she has been carrying. Every time she is here she sits right down and starts in on the leftovers from supper and I can only imagine how big that baby is going to be! She received a telegram from Ted but it did not have much news to tell her. I think she is just hoping and praying that everything works out alright once the baby comes.
Lets see what else can I tell you dear. As you know the heat will just not let up. At night I sleep with no sheets on me and I am just sweating all the time. The upstairs is so hot that Mom has taken to sleeping on the couch in the living room. For some reason dear when we were staying at your Mom and Pop’s house it did not seem that warm on their second floor so I am wondering dear if their house is cooler than our because of all those trees?
I was thinking dear that I would like to get some film and start taking pictures of the baby and that way I could send some down to you. You were saying that you could get some film on the base so if you can , can you please send down to me some film?
Well dear I will have to end it here as I want to make sure that I feed the baby and then go out for a nice long walk that way I can get some exercise and keep this figure of mine trim and slim as I know you like it that way. So for now, loving you from the bottom of my heart,
Your loving wife,

Doreen

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Bill darling;

Well here I am the old married woman and now mother writing to you about all the goings on at the 95 Glebholme residence. It has been very busy around here and I am sorry that you have not received a letter from me sooner but I am just starting to get my feet firmly planted on the ground while I run around looking after 2 little ones.
It is so nice to hear that you are having lovely weather down there and that you are able to take advantage of all the summer activities that the Air Force allows you to do. It sounds like Lachine is wonderful in the summer and that reminds me of the nice times that we had down in Halifax dear and it makes me a little sad to think that we might not able to have those good times again for a little while at least.
Now what do I have to tell you dear. Our little girl is getting so restless lately, it does not seem to matter if she has been changed and fed she is putting up such a fuss and always wants to be held. She puts up such a scream and then Beverley covers her ears and just runs around the house screaming at the same time. I try and get both of them out of the house and go for walk dear, but trying to keep a hold of Beverley’s hand while I push the carriage can be difficult at times.
She is putting on her weight and you were right the the juice and the Cod live oil seems to be doing just the trick. Sometimes I think of how I used to get up early and go to work and then come home and make supper and then go to the show with Irene and Jessie I think how did I do it and not be so exhausted all the time.
Your Mom and Pop have been coming over quite a bit lately and dear, you should see your Pop smile when he gets his hands on the baby. I think he just loves her so much and he wants to spoil her something rotten.
Marg is getting close to her time and I think that the heat we have been having is not good for her. She has to been in that house and it is very hot and she still does all the cooking and cleaning for those Simpsons and I just cannot understand why she still puts up with it. Marg has not received a letter from Ted in over 3 weeks and I know she is feeling badly about the whole situation. I am so glad darling that you take the time to write to me at least twice a week and those letters mean so much to me and that really do cheers me up so please do not stop writing them.
I am very excited to have you back home dear and just you watch out. I think that we will have just a lovely time together and if the weather holds we will be able to go for walks along the Danforth and get ice cream and really do what every we want to.
My Pop has not been feeling very well lately and I think he has one of those summer colds that just seem to last for ever. He does not want to be be around the baby just in case that he gives her the cold. So he sits outside on the porch when he gets home from work and most days he will eat his supper outside. With the weather being so nice I really do not think that he minds at all.
Well darling I believe that that is about all the news from around here, and so I am just counting down the days until you are back home with me and our little daughter and we can be a family, for at least 5 days.
So with all my love, I love you more and more each day.
From your loving wife,

Doreen

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Hello darling;

Well dear here it is Monday night and I have just come in from seeing “Once Upon a Time” but it wasn’t so hot. I am sorry that I did not write sooner dear but I was waiting until I received a letter but I haven’t had one in a while from you, but I am hoping that I will get one from you tomorrow.
I have so many questions about you and the baby that I think I will wait for your letter to ask them or wait until I come down and see for myself how things are going.
Gee dear it is nice to look forward to being with you even though it is only for 5 days and we will have a really good time. I am just thinking about all the fun we will have and how we will have such a time with the baby and I certainly hope that she knows who I am.
Well dear we have been having lovely weather down here, too warm in fact. Friday night I went to the Hospitality House but I decided to go for a walk and so I was in bed early. Saturday night I went to the Y.M.C.A for a swim and that was pure heaven. Yesterday I played tennis in the afternoon and went to the station show. We are having a big field day on Thursday afternoon so I should get some sun.
Well dear I am just think of how well our little daughter is getting on so well. I guess I will notice a big difference in our little darling. Gee, I am so happy when I think of you and her both belonging to me. I only wish that we were together but I pray every night for that and I have faith that we will be together very soon.
I have not asked but how is your Mom and Pop doing? I hope that everybody is getting along well and that the addition of a baby has not disrupted the household too much. I hope that Donna is not crying a lot and keeping Beverly up at night as we both know what a terror Beverley can be.
By the way dear, I think I would like to get the Star again so would you be able to put in a request for me again? I think you should wait until I have had my 5 days leave though dear, so that the paper will not be sitting around for one of the fellows to enjoy.
My I miss you dear and I bet that you look pretty good but you look swell to me dear always. Well darling that is all for now and so until Wednesday when I write you again I remain,
Your loving husband and Pop,

Bill

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Hello darling;

I received the birth announcement that you sent me for Donna and I was very glad to receive it, but I was expecting a little more information in the form of a letter from you dear. I am glad to hear that Donna is getting on so well and I certainly miss you very much. I’ll be home on the 3rd of June dear that is a week this Friday. I think I will be able to get 5 days, don’t ask me how but it isn’t an annual leave. So that will be until Wednesday night won’t that be grand dear? I can hardly wait.
We are having lovely weather down here and they are going to let us wear shorts and socks so I should get a really good tan this year.
Well let me see that I have done since I last wrote you darling. Friday night I went to the show. Saturday I went to the Y.M.C.A and Sunday I went to the Hospitality House. Monday I went for a walk after work and last night I went to the station show. I have not been in Montreal proper for a month now. It really is lovely here in Lachine in the summer but I think you are right about not wanting to come down here. The baby is doing so well that i would hate to see anything happen to spoil it. You can get an apartment down here pretty easy but they are pretty expensive but we can think it over in the fall.
They asked for 5 volunteers for overseas and Bert Kevanghan volunteered. I think that has wife won’t like that very much. He is going on his embarkation leave today.
So our little daughter is starting to recognize things. I just wish that I was there to watch her grow up but she has a lovely mother to look after her and love her and the little darling knows it too I think. I believe that a baby should really have a lot of loving. I think husbands should too don’t you? So you will have to give me a lot of loving when I come home next weekend and I will be all set for lots of love from my baby daughter.
We will go dancing when I come home what do you say to that dear? I think the Palais Royale would be the best spot because it is nice and cool down there.
So I forgot to ask dear did the Doctor give you any exercises to do? If he did make sure that you do them because you have a lovely figure dear and you should try and keep it. I’d better not think about your figure to I will be coming home right this moment! I certainly do love you darling and it will be heaven when this war is over and we are together once again for good.
Well darling I think that is about all for now but I will write you another letter on Friday or Saturday and so for now dear all live love.
Your loving husband,

Bill

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Hello dearest;

Dear, let me first start by saying that this letter is well overdue, and I do hope that you accept my apologies for not writing sooner, but I have just been so busy now that I am up on my feet and moving around like my old self.
Everyone is fine here, and your Mom and Pop have been around almost everyday to come in and see Donna, but most of the time she is sleeping.
Bill dear, she is really a wonderful little girl, she never fusses or really cries all that much, but she certainly makes sounds when we she wanting her feed.
I went to the doctors yesterday and had my check up and he said everything is going well and that Donna is right on track in regards to her putting on weight. I was so happy to hear that and that I am doing everything right as dear, I was concerned that I was not being a good mother but I have had some practice with Beverley but this is something very different as this is our little baby.
How have you been keeping dear as I read by your last letter you seem to be out and about quite often and going to the show at least 3 times a week. What I would not give to be able o go to the show with you dear, and hold your hand while we watch the picture.
My Mom has been a big help in getting me set up with the baby as she had lots of clothes and diapers left over from Beverly and I have been using them. Mom thinks having Donna around will be good for Beverley as there are not a lot of little ones on the street and now there are 2 in the house together and I am sure when the time comes that they will like to play with one another, but lets not rush things dear as I want to enjoy all the moments with our baby.
We had a visitor the other night and I was surprised and happy to see Doris come around and see the baby. I know she is wanting one of her own desperately but as you say dear, everyone is doing it so I told her to just keep trying and before soon enough she will have one.
Last night I also had a phone call from Dot, as she was working late and had a chance to give me a ring. We spoke for a few minutes but I could tell that her heart was just not in it. She told me about the office and that she was busy with work but she really did not ask me many questions about the baby, so dear, I think that she is in quite a place with her beau and I hope that she comes to her senses and finds a better man.
But enough about that dear, when are you planning on coming back down here and how long will you be staying for? I hope you get a nice long leave and we can spend lots of time together.
Well dear, that is all for now so I will end it here by saying I love you very much and Donna sends her little baby kisses to you,
From your loving wife,

Doreen

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Hello darling;

Well dear here it is Thursday afternoon and as yet I have not had a letter from you and I am so anxious to hear how our daughter is getting on. I hope that you managed to go to the Doctors on Tuesday.
Well dear I managed to get back alright. I guess my father told you that the first train was packed but they put a coach on the second train which was all freight and I got a real good seat on it. I arrived in at 7:15 in the morning. I was rather tired Tuesday night and so I laid down at 6:30 and slept until 10:30 then I got up and went to bed. Last night I went to the show downtown and it was very good. They took us in buses and brought us back as well.
The U.S army Air Corps band is putting on a concert tonight and I don’t know whether to go or not. There is a golf course next door to us you know and we can play over there so I think I will learn the game.
Well dear I had a wonderful time on my week-end and I was really sorry to have to come back here but as I said all good things have to come to an end. You are looking real well dear and do not forget to get lots of rest, even if the little one is crying.
By the way dear, when you go to the doctors will you inquire about what we talked about? All the married fellows around here told me their wives used them and found them very good and they only cost about $5.00, so that would be just the thing for us.
I received another edition of the S&U paper today and from what I read about Dave Miller I would bot be surprised if Doris was expecting. Everybody is doing it these days, it really must be fun. I think it is don’t you? And just think darling of all the time we have to make up when I get back home and all the fun that we will have, Oh Boy!
Gee we certainly have a lovely daughter haven’t we dear and she is really getting the best of care. I just wish I was at home to watch her grow up. By the way dear will you take some pictures of her during the week and send me them as soon as possible because I am looking forward to receiving then very much that is what we ought to do, take a picture every month and just compare them to watch her grow. Wouldn’t that be something?
Well dear that its about all for now. I have to get paid and so I will mail this right away dear and do not forget to write soon dear. I do apologize for the messy writing but all I have to write with is this darn pencil and the nib is getting dull so I will end it here.
And for now darling, all my love to you and our daughter Donna.

Bill

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