Dear Mother and Dad,
It is my Sunday off and a lovely day. After breakfast I washed clothes and spent the rest of the time on my Christmas Cards. Yes, I know it is disgracefully late to send them out, but I only found the card recently. After my late, late Easter cards, I didn’t suppose anyone would mind.
The Christmas box arrived a couple of days ago with the soup. It will be fine and I am very grateful for the Kleenex. We are suppose to get a small box every two months at the PX but it is always just luck if you receive it. Roberta Harrison sent me a Christmas box and also one from Peg arrived. She has made such dire threats that I am afraid to open it. She might put the evil eye on me or something.
This afternoon, Lee and I were invited to the Opera "Manon" by one of the fellows at the office. I enjoyed it as usual. But goodness, those Opera Houses are drafty. The stage is so huge and we were seated near the front on the Orchestra floor, when the curtain goes up a cold gale blows right at you. I swear next time I will take a blanket along. We left the Opera in a slight drizzle. A day couldn’t pass without rain. We worked our way through the subway to the Hotel.
That subway! It always amazes me. I’ve never been so pushed and shoved in my life. Parisians individually are quite polite, but in a crowd! After living in London and Paris I am convinced that Americans have the best manners in the world. In fact, we’re almost head and shoulders above them on every score except books on Art.
It was such a nasty night, we decided to stay in. I stopped in Woodie’s room on the way back from dinner and saw her Christmas tree. She has her presents underneath. Of course, she knows what every single one contain, but it looks good.
Last Wednesday afternoon, we went to bookstores. I found two small copies of Van Gogh and Degas which I liked, but that was all. Next time I intend to go over into the Latin Quarter and try my luck.
On the way back, I stopped at a small Art Shop, old and musty. I intended to get a couple of tubes of watercolor paint. I’ve had no backbone when it comes to Art Shops. Of course, I will use them, but I hadn’t intended to buy so many. They were very small tubes of watercolor.
Daddy’s letter containing the money order arrived and I thank you very much. A package was mailed a couple of days ago. It is hard to say when it will arrive. A present from Mother, Emma and Grandmother and a small one for Daddy. You’ll know it is on the way and I hope you like it.
I’ll write to Aunt Beulah and give her a request for the Reader’s Digest, although I haven’t had one since September. Guess the copies are floating around in the Christmas mail. I will also send her my income tax statement that they mailed me from Chicago, because I can’t make heads or tails of it. Maybe she can.
Mother mentioned something about sending me magazines. Would you, please. Especially back copies from last March will be most gratefully received. I sometimes think I’ll go crazy for something to read and American magazines are special!
I hope I have covered everything. I am still waiting for the gloves – they are somewhere in the Christmas mail. They’ll be along any day now.
Love,
Frances
Frances
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