January 25, 1947

Sunday

Dear Doc,

This may be the long promised decent letter I was going to write.  But of course, who knows?  Only time will tell.

It is a perfectly beautiful Sunday afternoon.  I certainly hate to be on duty.  I can't believe the day is possible.  Some like beautiful Texas weather.  Oh no, anything but that.  Be a perfect day for flying, so, why don't you hop in the "Old Gypsy" and dash down Milwaukee way?  Really Chief Big Feather, when have you commenced telling times by moons?  Haven't you heard?  There are days, weeks, months, etc. Sorry, you've been going through life all the "moons" uninformed but I shall see what can be done about it.

Gad, it's beautiful out.  I would like to be doing first anything so I believe I shall "round up" some patients and take them out walking.  Best I can do, but I said just anything, didn't I?

Pardon me one moment while I do.  Promise I won't wait three days.

Monday

Promise I won't wait three days.  Well, I didn't with three days, but one, I shall continue.

It's terribly cold out.  Quite a contrast from the first part of the weather.  Gosh, it is cold, I'm sorry I didn't go with Admiral Byrd to the South Pole, I would be much warmer right now.  Or would I?  But we won't go into that - Let's not - shall we?

Had quite a busy day today.  There certainly is plenty of activity round the place lately - Good weather for alcoholics - 

Jo and I are having a wonderful time.  We are learning how to knit.  Now don't laugh.  It is funny though.  Oh, what laughs!  Frankly, I beginning to think "Why be a slave in the machine age?"  My, so called, scarf looks like one big knot with moth holes.  It's a masterpiece.  I think I'll frame something to show my grandchildren.  Jo is getting "brave" and wants to knit a sweater.  This should prove quite an eventful winter.  But I shall bother you no longer with this female chatter.

Hope you have received the letter I sent to your home.

Tell me, are you still living at or fraternity house?  I hope your "house mother" is treating you with care.

Be good and do write soon - 

Jo sends her "knitted best"

As ever,

Anne

January 18, 1947

Thursday

Dear Doc,

And so again I shall start another letter to you.  Since I received your last letter I have made several unsuccessful attempts.  But this one, I vow will get to you, if I have to deliver said contents myself, in person.

This being a most quiet Thursday evening.  Everyone in Bark House has their day off including myself but had to work because I was off yesterday due to this damn miserable cold.  I've tried everything, from sulfa to scotch, but to no avail.  Anyway, as I was saying I am alone but not as fortunate as you, Mr. Rounds, to be home alone with "Honey."  

Now, really, Doc, you honestly don't believe you have convinced me that "Honey" could be a dog.  How could you Doc?  Tell me about her, Doc.  My, the right setting, Frank Mum and everything, you certainly do think of everything, Don't you?

We shall leave it at that.  With the famous last words I know better. 

We, both Jo and I were most interested to hear the details about Bill's wedding. Frankly, I think it will be mighty good for him.  That is, if Barbara can tolerate it.  It will give him something else, besides himself to think about.  Of course, Doc, you are going to visit the happy couple.  Who knows (never mind I was going to say something catty)  I think you should except said invitation, after all, Doc, I'm sure Barbara, being "the sweetest and best wife in the world" wants to meet the friends of her sweetest and best husband.

Sounds just like Bill, "Yep I went and did it," just as though he were buying ticket on a raffle or something of the like.  But we should be considerate - Bill is a fine young man - Best intentions and if he is happy I envy him.  He certainly deserves it as there really is such little happiness in the world compared with the unhappiness one must endure.  Yee, gods this writing!!

Speaking of having tonsils removed. (That seems to be an everlasting subject of conversation with the Roberts, Rounds friendship)  By all means, have the darn things extracted.  It really is nothing at all.  Even though I would not go through the "slight operation" (so it is called) again, second thought, I guess I would.  Do get them out before they get too bad as I made that mistake.

I'm afraid this letter is terribly dull, so if you have an engagement with "Honey" or anything else to do go right ahead.  You will be missing nothing at all.

At present, I find myself unprepared to give you a full detailed report on Benzedrine .  I shall try to remember to look it up at my first opportunity.  For safety sake, my dear, Austin Lincoln Rounds, I would exercise restraint, if I were you and would not indulge too heavily.  Incidentally, what has Benzedrine to do with Accounting and General Business?  Or is this extra curricula activities?

Saw "Henry V" It is a fine thing.  Really worth seeing.  I'd like to see the thing again.  Frankly, I believe more people would understand Shakespeare if he were produced in the same manner as "Henry V".  Olivier did a truly fine job.  Think you would enjoy it.  See it if you get the opportunity.

I have taken a job doing secretarial work an hour and a half after I get off duty for the old alcoholic I once told you about.  Anyway, she thinks she can write and I guess she was pretty good in her day - But!!  And of course, I don't mind.  The writing I do in one day is nil as she lies down on the bed, gets up, goes to the bathroom, comes out, gets her knitting, sits down, has me help her move the chair, gets up, closes the window, turns on the heat, led down again, gets up, paces the floor, opens the window, turns off the heat, goes to the bathroom, coughs, coughs some more, lies down again, finally jumps up saying, Miss Roberts you've had a hard day, you may go now!

Do I wonder - How long before I go bats?  The doctors say, she loves having me, so what am I to do?  Just keep her happy, they say.  I'm beginning to believe I should charge her more.  After all!  Anyway, she has loads of dough and she may leave me several million.

Seriously though, I think, God, if I can make the old girl happy by just being with her, that is the least I can do.  She is quite interesting.  Spent most of her life in Paris (no surprise she's an alcoholic) also traveled all over Switzerland on foot.

That would be fun, don't you think?

Someday I'll do something foolish (so people say) like hiking out West, or taking a youth Hostel trip someplace.

This is a very bad letter.  I must continually apologize for my letter writing.  Per usual I shall try to write a better one next time - 

Jo sends her love - 

Thanks for offering Bill's address.  Guess he wouldn't be interesting in hearing from us.  As I wouldn't care to write.  Do send him our congratulations when you write, please - 

Write again soon - 

As ever,

Anne

January 7, 1947

New Year's Day

Dear Doc,

A very happy New Year to you, Mr. Rounds.  I sincerely hope your every wish shall be granted.

Being New Year's Day, I honestly feel proud of myself, no headaches, no hangover, I find myself among the fortunate few or perhaps among the unfortunate.  Frankly, I would have preferred the later, However, no such luck.  A few of the nurses in our humble "Bark House" as it is so called, (no reference to the occupants) had a "gay" party.  Oh, we had a great time, however, I would hardly consider it a New Year's Eve up to the old Roberts standard.  Anyway, I have no hangover, so what?  Well, again, Happy New Year, may you live to see a thousand. However, continue flying as you have been and you may be seeing New Year's from a "different view".

Good God, man, don't you want to live?  The least you could do would be to wear your red woolies.  After all the hours I've spent lecturing to you on the many advantages of "snuggies", Oh, you should be ashamed.  Enough about that, remember though, whenever in need of a "very fine nurse" do feel free to call on one Anne Roberts, of course, just having experience with mental illnesses you can't expect too much, I've been told I do have "quite a bedside manner," but we'll let that pass.  Also if you can remember, I'm still the "good old nose dropper" I was when in San Antonio.  Yee, gods, am I responsible for this conversation?

Jo just told me to tell you to please be careful with that silly airplane of yours, you are not in San Antonio now, and anyway, she would like to see you again alive.  Et tu Brutus.

Thursday

Can't even remember what happened to my letter writing mind of last night but nevertheless I shall make a favorable attempt to finish this letter this evening.

I'm so glad you had such a fine Christmas.  Ours was quite pleasant after time progressed, having to work Christmas morning spoiled the day for the.  We caught a train from Wausaw Christmas afternoon and got home @ 7:00 p.m., which wasn't too bad, the train ride was fun - Next trip I take I shall reserve a chair in the Club Car - Anyway, we got home to a most wonderful Christmas dinner.  Everything from oyster cocktails (my favorite) to after dinner Brandy.  Being accustomed to the rarity of institutional cooking I found my taste buds gone but they soon began to bloom and all was well.  Thursday being our day off was spent eating, talking, drinking, and doing all the good things one does while at home.  It was good seeing my brother, who is still in the Army.  He and his wife were home for the holiday.

Listen my dear, Mr. Rounds you haven't seen anything until you really do see Insulin Shock Treatment.  The amount of insulin given to Diabetics is so very small compared to the treatment of mental illnesses.  Diabetics getting only 10 to 20 units before each meal.  However, with this type of shock treatments the amount varies from 120 to as high as 300 units.  The treatment usually lasts form 1:00 a.m. until noon, depending on the patients.  It's the damnedest thing I have ever seen (full shock).  The first time I saw it I was so frightened I wanted to go right home and pack my things and bid farewell to this type of work forever.  But now, I'm quite accustomed to the treatment and it  doesn't bother me too much.  What surprised me so greatly was the great number of young men and women who are here.  One starts to think, what the devil is this generation coming to?  A lot of the fellows are ones who have been in the Army, that's understandable - but the women - Speaking of the weaker sex, I'm convinced.  I shall defend them no longer.  Most of them are from the richest families, perhaps that's reason without thinking any further.  Perhaps if some of them went out and earned their "way" for awhile they wouldn't have time to be depressed and all theses idiotic things they've been thinking and doing.  I could rave on all night but I won't.

As far as "throwing invitations around" Why do you suppose one sends invitations?  Of course, to be accepted.  I would like to see you very much (Excuse me, one of the nurses just dashed in and wants us to go to the movie, so we shall - will write more later)

I hope you will be patient and I shall get on with this.  This is Saturday.  Please forgive me if you have a rather difficult time trying to decipher this so called writing.  Guess the movie was too much for me as 2 a.m. in bed as a result.  I managed to pick up a beautiful cold and feel miserable.  (the price one pays for living in the North)  Anyway, I'm supposed to be resting.  Which I shall do after I finish this letter to you.  I have been enjoying the luxuries of the Milwaukee Sanitorium.  Perfectly wonderful meals delivered right to my bedside.  I love it.  Guess I've let this cold linger.  On second thought, I guess I won't miss my work too much.

As I was saying.  It would be perfectly wonderful seeing you again.  May I also say, no explanations are in order - Tell me, what is there to explain?  Oh, all right, if you want to hear the story of my life again I shall gladly submit same.

January 6

I have found one thing try in my life.  Never plan anything. From today on I shall do just that thing.  Today is the day for the Ballet and here I am still in bed.  I had planned on going so ver much.  Gosh, that makes me so mad (angry, pardon me).  Oh, well, there will be more _ Everything happens for the best, no matter how cruel it seems at the time -

Heavens man, keep me in suspense no longer.  Tell me about Bill Ayers' wedding.  Frankly, I can't believe it.  Just can't picture Bill married.  Has he written you?  Did you receive an invitation?  Is the girl from Hamilton? Did they have a large wedding?  Tell all, Doc, I really am interested, as it is what I never expected, but then, one never knows.  I certainly hope for Bill's sake it is the "real thing' (if such exists).  He certainly would be a miserable object unhappily married.  Enough about that - I am anxiously awaiting all details - 

Forgive me if this letter is bad, I know it is.

Take it easy in that little flying machine - please -

As ever, 

Anne

 Do write soon, per unusual