23 Mar 1943
Dorothy Griffin to Maude / Arlington, VA
Dear Mother Griffin
Your most welcome letter just came and while I feel the urgent need to have a visit with you I'm going to let my work slide by and write. I've been wanting to tell you about Paul and Bob and all the exciting things that are beginning to grow about the house, all new surprises to me, but it all fades into shadow when I get Elsie on my mind. You know I'd do anything in my power to ensure her happiness. As I read your letter a lot of ideas flocked into my head, like trying a large ring of keys to a locked door. I'm not sure any will fit, and the human mind can stand up only against so much experimentation and then collapse. It's this last that worries me. We can all think of plans for Elsie but she is the one who has to make each complete readjustment and each one is a private little hell. I know it's that way with me.
But first of all if she definitely wants to climb a career ladder (I know it's an alternative but lets meet it as much) she needs more schooling and no better time ever time ever existed to go, that is, she can almost choose her own location and get part time work anywhere to help herself through and with Dad's business doing pretty well and all you could probably her better now than ever before. If even she would do that or join one of the uniformed services, in the latter case appealing for a commission. Now I hesitate to suggest the latter to her as it involves danger but I know if I were single and acceptable, that's exactly what I'd do at this time.
The schooling would be safer and probably advance her more towards a career. The service would be exciting, new and an open sesame after the war to any government job. Here we see hundreds of WAACs, WAVES and Marines. They all look happy and energetic; maybe it's wearing a uniform. Holding the job she does in the War Department, I think she could wangle a commission (usually they want graduates) and of course then she would have responsible work, but schooling would be of just as great or more value to her in the long run. Now John doesn't even know I've made these suggestions to you. I do know he worries very much about Elsie as he knows how she's fundamentally dissatisfied. As for looking up the R-fellow, I think the best plan is for John to simply call him up and tell him that Elsie has written that he's here studying and probably lonesome, and invite him to dinner. After all, we do that with others.
We still get a tremendous kick out of Paul. He's such a little clown. He stands on his feet and head and plays for minutes at a time and when he wants something out of reach he simply stands up and walks over to it, but otherwise is perfectly content with crawling. He's hungry all the time and laughs with his eyes and nose as well as his mouth. Everyone falls in love with him because he loves people. I get on a bus and he'll go to any stranger who smiles at him.
Bobby will have learned to read before he enters school. He recognizes many words already and adds and subtracts all easy combinations as a matter of course.
Our place still looks full of empty spaces. We need a sofa badly, a rug in the dining room just to look as though we'd really moved in, but we forget it and are just glad we're lucky enough to have the conveniences we do have.
You know my table lamp broke to pieces on the way, and for a long time we just had the standing lamp, but not long ago I got one that pleases me ever so much. It has a royal crown china base and a green satin shade that looks like it grew up with the rug outside.
I'm beginning to be thrilled to pieces. I have two lilac bushes. I've always wanted lilacs. A myriad of bulbs have spouted green leaves; there's even iris and six rose bushes; many cherries and several unidentified perennials. Frankly I do miss my overabundance of flowers in California but when Spring comes I hope to forget that.
We fortunately have two very pleasant and clean girls in the big bedroom, which keeps us with the heavy expense of the house. I don't board them at all. We've all been well through the winter and that's remarkable.
We're absolutely thrilled to pieces over Don and Madge. If they soon don't break the news to us, I'll write anyway. You'd think John was the grandfather. He said "It makes me feel pretty old."
Do write again soon, and urge Don to also! Love, Dorothy
Back