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I had - "and I lost it but I guess he was using himself as a horrible example of laxity in concentrating on his work. Finally the boy said, "Well, sir, we work hard six days a week and I think we are entitled to one day of recreation -" And then he was snowed under again.

Got a lot of inspiration reading [[underlined]] Eddie Rickenbacker's [[/underlined]] story of his ordeal in a rubber life raft floating around on the Pacific for 28 days after being forced down. After reading of such an experience, it makes one realize that most of us don't understand much about life or its value - have never been up against the stark reality of death and been forced to appraise the value of life as no one can, I imagine, until they get into such a spot.

This evening [[underlined]] Mat Tate threw a quiet [[/underlined]] little dinner for me, having Marshall, John Grace, Paul Ehrgott, Art Schoch, Lillard Charlie, a Major Hunt, and a Mr. Miller there. Vic was indisposed after having been shaken up in a taxi crash on the ice and Ed Harley and Dick Packard were away for the weekend. Apparently the gang will be genuinely sorry to see me leave - I hear it so often and so sincerely from all appearances, that I really think it is so. Well, I shall miss the gang too. It has been a unique experience. Maybe I've made a mistake to turn Andrew down - but I have done what seemed right and I can't do any more than that. Charlie referred to a "bear trap" tonight but I doubt if there is anything to it.

Washington, D.C.
Monday, Dec. 21, 1942.

I think Charlie's "bear trap" is a committee job of some kind that will take me to Washington about once a month. Today I got an extension of my travel authority to Mar. 31st but that means nothing. 

Spent the whole day getting the GE Kardex into

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