11 May, 1944 Friday

My Beloved, 

Please excuse the pencil, Terry, darling, I'm down at the club "sweating the boys out" as it were, our crew didn't go today - and  feel in the mood to write to you and no pen to be found. You understand, don't you?

Not much news today, I just want to write about us, even a short note will suffice. 

Only "8" to go, getting near the end. And I'll say in passing that the closer the time draws near, the more I find myself thinking of you and "us." 

At one time, you seemed so far, so very far away. Not in miles, not in time, but in circumstance. 

But now my hopes of finishing, of seeing you again has started to appear. Not as a remote possibility, but as a very real probability. I've always felt confident, but there were always those terrific odds to overcome (let me say again that I'm merely commenting, not bragging, tap on wood). 

Be that as it may, you can readily see what I mean. Ass the time approaches, I don't feel anymore like it was just a dream, just something that couldn't happen, but as something very near and dear and full of hope. 

Do you wonder why - as I crawl into the sack and stay awake just thinking how wonderful you are and how lucky I really am to have you waiting for me - to share together all that is coming to us, and to finally fall asleep, just thinking of you, and do you wonder why I dream of you? It won't be hard to realize the thrill I get "just visualizing you Terry, the swellest girl in the world."

I just received your latest letter dated May 2, and Terry, your feelings for me reminded me so much of the way I feel towards you. The feeling I have for you is of sheer adoration, I have the urge to hug, to squeeze, to embrace as only I don't know how (but I'd try), but always ending up with nothing to do about it. If only you were here now, just to sit here together, just to look at you. 

Now, I've said what I wanted to write, I wanted you to know. But I'm still here, and you're still there - and my God, Terry, I can't keep on writing like this, hard on the constitution, 

So, my little piece of mind is settled now, I've said what I felt, and for today I'll leave you for just a little while. 

Until another time, then, Terry, I'll bid farewell to my sweetheart. 

You have all of my deepest love. 

Your future husband and eternal companion, 

Jim