March 3.
Dear Mother,
I hope that you have not been looking too anxiously for a letter - this is the first chance I have had since the weekend. The Navy certainly does things back side to - our finals came on Tuesday and Wednesday before our courses were completed. We have taken notes as fast and furiously for every one of our classes and spent all of our time - what there is of it - cramming furiously for all sorts of minute details. We discovered from experience that the instructors seem to delight in choosing small points for quizzes. I think I managed to pass all of the tests but I know I should have done better so that I feel unsatisfied with the whole thing.
Now before I forget - will you please call Mrs. Swengel [?] for me and tell her that Peter's tale about being punished must have been a day dream. Peter was not perfect but he certainly never did anything of that sort. Peter wrote a nice letter when he was sick and I shall try to answer soon. (There - I was afraid I would forget to straighten that out.)
Since we have done nothing but studying and trying to study there is not much to write about. The weather has been quite springlike until today when we awoke to a snowstorm. It has been snowing most of the day, so I expect we shall be wearing our overshoes for some time again. You may be sure that the Navy looks after us - we get our eight hours sleep, plus, and so far we have escaped only two days without boots or rubbers.
This last week has certainly been a picture-taking week - identification pictures in borrowed uniforms, posture pictures for gym, and formal pictures in hat and white blouse for some sort of a year book. We are not in uniform yet - but probably by the weekend. My two suits and coat are back from fitting and I have all of the blouses I think I'll need for some time.
I wish that you could see us this on this Wednesday afternoon. We are relaxing after exams - Wednesday and Saturday schedules are broken up with more free time. Mimi is curled up in bed with a "Good Housekeeping" trying to forget things military, Jean is typing a letter sitting on her top bunk, Dorothy and Norma are sewing name tags in new blouses, and I shall soon join them. We have firmly resolved on no studying for some time - at least till study hours tonight.
Did I tell you that we have a very "atmospheric" tea shop here in Hadley? On Saturday afternoon three of us went in and poked about at the books and then had tea from a pewter pot - orange toast, date bars and cinammon (sp.) toast. Some of the Holyoke students were there, too, and we enjoyed watching them. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back on Sunday to vary the monotony of eating from trays.
I won't have a chance to see Peep this weekend but I hope to soon. It is disgusting to be so close and not able to go - I suppose another chance will not come for two weeks.
I was glad to get your letter today - I began to be afraid that you were sick. Do tell me if you are - I shall worry less if I know for sure. And are you staying alone? I don't think Patsy is enough - I'm glad your friends are remembering you and I hope it isn't too lonely for you. It would be so nice if South Hadley and Perrysburg were just down the road from each other - but there just isn't time here to fuss about it. I am glad the taxes are paid - do you think you can remember that you pay no income tax because you made less than $500 last year?
If Lib [Elizabeth Munger] has been neglectful, George [Munger, Lib's brother and Caroline's sometime boyfriend] has made it up by sending letters and a box of chocolates which we have enjoyed. I have also had letters from Audrey & a clever card from Edith Pope.
Love,
Caroline
I'll send a copy of Wave paper in a separate envelope.
I have taken out service insurance with Peep as the beneficiary for $7000 - premiums are now 69c [cents] per thousand per month.
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