Wednesday 5 April, 1944

Hello Sweetheart, 

I just got home from another pass spent in London. I had a fair time, but just as tired from it as is usually the case. Oh, I knock myself out, need a rest now. 

I saw a good musical play, "Strike a New Note," starring Sid Fields, Gracie Field's Brother. He was darn good, and exceedingly versatile, especially in his mastery of the English styles and classes. That would include the modes of speech. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Good singing, and especially good arrangements. I was withing you could have been with me. I should go to the theatre more often, I keep telling myself.

There were several questions asked in the "pile" of letters I found on my bed when I got home. I'll answer a few without giving the question away for security reasons. 

I've got "eleven" so far, it won't be long now before the happy day will be here. The number used to be 25, but has been changed to more. I won't tell you any more,  because I don't want to mislead you, results: disappointment if what I said didn't turn out as expected. So, darling, just hang on, and the time will pass, and with time, my tour of duty draws closer to an end and I'll be nearer to you at the end of each day. Good enough?

Darling, accept my apologies for some of the morbid letters I wrote in the past, it was the frame of mind I was in; one can't always choose the time to write, you've seen the results. 

Might I say, your letters help a lot, they take me away from my immediate surroundings, away from cold reality. 

Therefore, it's only natural that I should write about us and my "good times," to even things up a little. When I don't, and I'll try not to, give me a gentle reminder. Things are never quite as bad as they sound or seem to be. That's what I liked about one of the clippings you sent. What was it? Oh - something like, "Take things as they are, happy they're not worse, hoping they'll be better." 

Maybe those aren't the words I gather, but if there's humor in any trying situation, why not try to find most of it? Some might call it a perverted sense of humor, that is, if the circumstances aren't exactly pleasant, but at least there's health in laughter, any kind of laughter. 

So let's laugh at them all, let's make'em know it! And when the chips are down, we'll wait our turn for the stroke of fate will turn, and we'll ride it high when it does. Then let's all whisper a little prayer, and wait - yes wait and hope for the most of the best there is to come. Let's hope for that much, darling, and we can't go wrong. 

I'm just as thrilled as you are, Terry, at the prospects of our marriage - especially the potentialities of our deepest, most passionate love, our complete happiness as one, our accomplishment of absolute mutual understanding, and last but not least, our will to succeed as man and wife. (Our will as well as our desire to be a happy couple) There's so much to look forward to!

Now the time has come or us to work for another day because this letter is rapidly drawing to a close. 

You have all my deepest love - waiting for you, may it be soon - 

May God Bless You, Darling, and make that wait a little easier. 

"Always together"

Jimmy