Brooks Field
Nov. 19, 1945
Dear Mother:
What do you think of green ink? I ran out today and have no more blue so I have to use some that Bill left behind.
I got your letter today and noticed right away the two Air Mail stamps. I had been wanting an Air Mail stamp for a letter going to Mary. I owe her a letter and when the mail goes by Air the lapse time seems less. So I will send one of them off to Mary.
I have just gotten over a bad case of tonsils. I had a sore throat when I got back and last Wed my tonsils became inflamed and swelled up so I could hardly swallow. It was about twice as bad as a sore throat. I went on sick call and the "Doc" gave me some pills which did no good. Well now I can write because I am all over my trouble and you won't worry. I don't know just what cured my trouble but it is really gone now. I feel like having my tonsils out and will if I have any more trouble.
I guess the women do take a lot of my time and perhaps money but I don't know what to do about it. Maybe it's me but it doesn't seem to be something you can take or leave. If I don't see Anne I miss her and when I realize that soon I will be gone for good I feel that I will miss her very much. I probably could live very well without the female influence but they do make life more interesting. So what can I do about my case?
Do you remember that pink shirt I said I was going to give to Anne? Well she has it now and what a perfect fit. She put it on for me last night when I went home with her and I have never seen a better shrink job in my life. It looks like it was made special for her and fitted to her. I was so happy when I saw it. She says it will be a good golf shirt.
You should have seen me this weekend. I went to one of those much publicized "Dude" Ranches up in Bandera Texas about 50 miles from San Antonio. I wore a beautiful red, black and yellow plaid shirt, a pair of blue jeans and a pair of cowboy boots. I hadn't intended to tell you about the boots because I am sure you will think I am crazy but I have had them some time now and they fit well and I don't feel so foolish about them.
Well to go on with the story, those clothes were all I wore up there. I really felt like a civilian again. We got up there at 8:00 PM and I changed my clothes in a cabin and off to town we went. We all had on plaid shirts and blue jeans so we bummed a ride. They have dances going on all over the place so we picked out one and danced almost all night. They have hill-billy music in the "Juke Box" so we danced "Put Your Little Foot", "Shoittish" and "Cotton Eyed Joe" most of the time. We had a grand time doing all those funny new dance steps.
No one sleeps in Bandera, not if anyone else knows about it. We all had two cabins which were connected by a bathroom and all night after we got back they were throwing water, wet towels, wet sheets and finally wet pillows at each other through the bathroom. Finally things quieted down a little and then someone filled a bunch of "coke" bottles full of water and then went around soaking beds. That was the last straw as far as any good sleep was concerned. So at 0600 AM everyone was asleep but up at a 0800 AM for breakfast.
After breakfast we went riding and I as usual looking like a great horseman was given a high strung horse. I had to hold him for all of the 3 hours and all he did was prance around stiff legged. Boy! do I have a sore rear end. I wore the skin off in places and can hardly sit down. Anyway I pick nice big soft chairs now if they are available.
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 as evidenced by the uniform and lack of plaid or cowboy boots. |
After a wonderful dinner they all couldn't stop to sleep for a few minutes but had to go play softball and then go dance again. Anne and I finally got the party back so I could change clothes and back to town we came last night at about 9:00 PM. It had really been a memorable weekend, one I shall never forget.
Today I am sleeping in between formations. I have one more to go and then I must get some shoes in town. What I really need is rest and more rest and it feels like it will take a week to get it all. I think the trip was all worth while, because I have some clothes like I have never had before and a lot of pleasant memories.
I guess I am running out of paper so will have to close for now.
With love
Austin
PS Just call me "Tex"
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