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43

shadow over my life I cannot shake off.

The children have grown strong and healthy in this period, untroubled by our troubles, thank God. Babbie is turning now to womanhood a very lovely thing she is. Rog husky and handsome, marred only by some faint scars on his face, the result of a serious tumble he took from his bike in May. Willie is quite well but dragged down perceptibly by the long vigil with Mother while I was in Washington almost continuously for three months. Except for my trouble before mentioned, I have been  exceedingly well and trust I can stay so through the ultra trying times that surely lie ahead of us all.
  We have had fun too in these long months since the fall of 1940. Vacation in 1941 was a joy with a lake trip to Duluth, and a visit to Charlie and Barbara Reed at Yorkton, Va., Charlie, then a major, being stationed at Ft. Eustis; today he is a Lt. Col. at Ft. Storey. I visited him over Sunday in April this year and he is Ordnance Officer for the Chesapeake Bay Forts, making good in the Army. I am now nearing the end of a two weeks vacation, taken at home this year because we daren't use our tires to drive anywhere far and we want to go easy on finances pending heavier taxes and War Bonds, etc. to come. Rog will go to Camp at Edinboro for two weeks and Bab to visit Dorothy Jean MacDonald, now living in Chicago, as their vacations; Willie may go to Washington with me for a few days later to give her a change. There are the big outings; there have been the usual parties; dances, etc. but more restrained and limited this past year. And yet, so far, we have felt the impact of war very, very little, in our private, personal lives. That should come soon now, and probably the sooner the better for Victory.