Sept 20, 1943 (Alex) “You can’t worship a goddess in rags”

This loving and detailed letter feels like the first one where their distance is more prominent. Alex goes into detail about his life at the camp (which he corrects is at Lake Seneca not Lake Geneva). He writes extensively about how much he loves their relationship – which he calls companionship – and how he can’t imagine a better coupling. It feels confusing to read this when I only knew him as husband to my grandma Sophie – his second wife and my dad and Adrienne’s stepmom. They loved each other immensely and she took great care of him when he lost his eyesight in his 70s. But marrying someone who lost their first wife after such a short period of time, much of which was spent separated, could have felt like marrying someone who was in love with a “perfect” person, a memory that couldn’t be tarnished. I never knew Sylvia but she had a powerful personality that feels very present to me now, having never known much about her growing up.

In this letter, Alex mentions some more intimate/sensual parts of their relationship which made me physically blush and shrink from the keyboard as I typed up his words. Obviously, this is normal and healthy letter content and onviously I’m only here because of this part of their relationship but every so often I have to be reminded that not only am I reading someone’s personal correspondence, but basically a day by day accounting of grandparents’ personal romantic relationship.

Another way Alex expresses his love for Sylvia in this letter is by insisting that she buy herself some nice clothes. He orders her to do this so that he can worship her as a goddess. He writes, “you can’t worship a goddess in rags.” It’s such a thoughtful way to support her and look out for her. I also love that he calls Adrienne Boopsie throughout the letter because those are the kinds of nicknames he gave his grandchildren later. I’ve written this before but I almost never (if ever?) heard my grandpa call me by my name. “Molly” was always replaced by a gibberish name like “chippee choopee.” Maybe everyone feels this way but to this day I feel particularly cared for and cherished when someone calls me by a nickname or pet name.

He also mentions that his company is not allowed to go to the USO show but writes, “of which I don’t care because that bullshit artist Ripley is performing.” The only famous Ripley I can think of is of “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” fame – did he do some kind of USO shows? I think it’s funny that Alex goes into such detail about the food – he goes so far as to draw the tray they use. Of all the things to draw… the tray? But if food is culture, then let’s hear all about it!

September 20 1943 (a) Alex to Sylvia

Sunday

Dearest Wife, 

I received your first letter Saturday. It made me feel good. It took two days to get here so don’t send anymore Air mail because it doesn’t pay.

I tried to call you Friday night, but I was ordered back to barracks before Charlie got you so I had to cancel the call. You can immagine[sic] how bad I felt and I know how you must have felt. I’ll call you next Friday again between seven thirty to eight thirty be in Sadie’s home because person to person call costs 90cents while a direct call is 50c so it is worth while if you won’t be disappointed if I am not there by the time you get to the phone. I am calling Friday because most of the boys are at show which the boys of Jewish faith go to church and can’t go to the movies. During other day’s there are such long lines in front of the phone booths that you can’t get to them, especially the boys from our company, because we are the last ones to go for mess (eats).

Services were nice, we had a cantor who sang nicely, and it was a nice diversion from our everyday duties. Today I could have called you but, darn it, we are restricted to barracks for punishment, the reason we ddin’t have it cleaned as they should be, so here 

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I am, I’ve got to do my washing yet so I’ll have plenty to do. Friday we got out tests, I haven’t got the idea how I’ve made out but it does not worry me, because the commander told us that they’ll assign us anyway on the basis of the needs of the fleet. I hope that I get to learn a trade. 

I have been assigned to window cleaning detail and I am the head of the detail, sixteen men. Of course everything has to be spotless. 

I was so happy when you wrote about Boopsie, and made me feel good, and I am full of love towards you and her and when I am coming back I am going to kiss and kiss you so much taht you won’t know what hit you, and we will have a good time and love making. Honey, I think you are swell and there is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you to see you happy. I am giving you now an assignment and I want you to carry it out, like a good sailors wife. I want you to buy a beautiful suit for this season, and a good dress, and undies and everything you need. I want you to have your “gear,” (Navy language for clothing) in order and sufficient, because when I am coming back I want to worship you like a goddess and you can’t worship a goddess in rags. This is an order and carry it out, my love. You still have a few dollars spend them for these needs, I am sick and tired to see you always in the same clothes or in rags. Don’t buy anything for Boopsie, she doesn’t need it yet. When I come back daddy is going to shop with you and her. 

Your letter was a tonic, even the breaking of the bottle which made me feel like home. Speaking of home it is definite that in seven weeks I’ll be there. 

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I amn lookingforward to it, darling. Every minute of leave will be devoted to you and from now on as till now, we will try to get the most out of our lives, and companionship. To know your home, and away from me, although it is not the happiest thing, still I feel that there couldn’t be any happier companionship tha ours, and understanding, and will have to do our outmost that nothing should come in between us to spoil it. I want you to love me as much as I love you. Cookie is a farther ties between us and I love her too. Write me about her because those little giggles and tricks (?) make me very happy. Many times I immagine her as she lays in her crib and gives that fascinating bright smile.

Life in camp is not bad, food is not bad either, there is strict discipline and order, they teach how to be disciplined and to keep order and execute order in the snappiest manner. I get a kick out of seeing some of these Brooklyn boys and siders (?) to change slowly. The first night they all were tired so when they got into their bunk they were quiet, but the next night they began to talk fart and laugh next day we got a treat and bawling out but they didn’t respond to it, at night were still boisterous and noisy. Yesterday we got a bawling out and confined to barracks for Sunday too. Well you should have saw each one blaming the other and noses down, at night they were like angels, lights were out at 930 (2130 Navy time) and quiet, they are fairly intelligent boys, not dom [sic] at all, most of them over twenty a few thirty. 

The biggest, (?) punishment, is the “dog wake” which is between midnight and four int he morning, its so bad because you go to sleep at 9:30PM and awakened at 11:45PM dress in full uniform by 12PM on your watch while others sleep. Of course everyone will get it but those who are punished they may have to do one two or more dog (?). So far I am in the clear and manage to remain so. 

Page 4 There is no K.P. duty. Around the sixth week will be a work week. Then they may assign you to water or police duty or KP or library or clean up squad all depending how your commanding officer signs you up. 

Here is a picture how we get fed:

The tray has cavities approximately as the design shows so that is where they put the food only coffee and soup go in cups. We get several times a week pork and beans and it is well prepared. Cakes and cookies are the finest. The other food compares with any of the best cafeterias in New York, of course the mess hall smells a little of salt peeler(?). Don’t worry, it has no permanent effect on anyone except momentary dulling of the sex drives. But even then I had several erections at night when thinking of our relationship, so you can see that it affect me very little. Itis good that they give it to us otherwise we would go crazy. I’ve made a mistake when I wrote that the camp is in Lake Geneva it is not it is on Lake Seneca. It is really so beautiful I can’t describe it. You can see across to the other shore and you can see the squares of various colors where the land is cultivated and the woods. We of course are not allowed to go near the water except on drill. There are trees all over of course except on the drill field. This letter is written under an apple tree (without apples) in the smoking circle where there are very comfortable benches. There are buckets everywhere in the circle where you throw your butts. The weather is beautiuful dear and cool, it night it is cold of course we have good blankets. 

I’ve seen Ben (Henrietta’s husband) he came once to see me and we had a little talk then he went back,

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That reminds me if you get a chance to go out (when you go and buy clothes for yourself, perhaps this will make you do it) get me a little chess set, there is a boy here who plays it and we could spend a little time playing, but not expensive one of which holes for the pieces so taht we can put away the game if we are called on duty. 

You see this letter has been interrupted three times and this paragraph once we had to shine windows again (and on Sunday too) we are not allowed to go to the USO show, of which I don’t care because that bullshit artist Ripley is performing. 

Well, honey we had dinner, and this what we got roast-beef, squash, salad cake ice cream and milk and all tasted good. 

I’ve got to finish now sweetheart, because I’ve got to copy the 11 general rules of the day(?) from the Bulletin Board otherwise its hell. 

Love, my sweet to you and baby don’t forget I’ll call you Friday between 7:30 and 8:30 PM be at Sadie’s so that I don’t have to run before the call gets through. 

Millions of xxx 

Alex

Give my best to all.