12 Mar 1945
John Griffin to Parents / Arlington, VA

Dear Mother & Dad,

Mother's letter arrived today and so I am hastening to rely. I wrote while I was in St, Paul and I don't know for sure whether you received that letter before writing.

Anyway we are all quite a bit better. My cold has moved up into my sinuses and is really giving, me a lot of discomfort, but I believe it is gradually getting better. This really is the worse cold I have ever had during mw entire lifetime. It has been with me constantly now for more than two months and some days 1 think it is getting better and the next day I think it is getting worse. Maybe when I get things cleared up a bit at work so that I can take it easy I'll be able to shake it off.

Paul is much better and is eating well again. Both Paul and Bob cough a bit at night but I believe they are both getting better. Dot seemed to escape with a very light dose and it is mighty lucky for us that she did. Another winter or two like this and I will be glad to move away from here for any salary.

I wont know whether I told you that I had briefs to file on each of the three cases I argued in St. Paul. I had only twenty days to prepare and file all three and as it took me three days to get back here and it will take about four days for them to get back up to St. Paul I really only have about ten days. I have, been working night and day to get them done and I am not sure even yet how I am going to come out. The first one is done and is 40 legal pages long. The second is almost done and is 60 pages. The third is still in the process of development and will be a long one. I will surely be glad when they are in. Then I have an argument to make on the 21st of March. After that I should be able to take things easy fur a bit until I go out to Kansas City to try three cases, probably in April or the first of May.

We have been having lovely spring weather the last few days. The tulips are up and the leaves are beginning to show on the willow trees along the Potomac. Washington is a beautiful place in the Spring. I transplanted a dogwood tree over on the north side of the house and we are hoping that it grows. I haven't started my garden yet because e I have been so busy and have been feeling so punk. I must get my peas in or it will be so warm by the time they are ripe that I wont get a crop from them. I expect to have a Victory Garden like last year. We still have quite a few quarts of cherries, peaches, and a lot of tomato juice in the basement so I don't know how extensive our canning will be this year.

We were glad to hear that you were doing so well at the store. No doubt paint will continue to be scarce for some time, at least that is what the trade papers I've seen indicate. It is too bad that Don cannot get out of the army and come home and go to work in the business. It would make him feel much better and be a big help for you too. I received a letter from him just the other day and they were still anxiously waiting. I have not heard from Elsie for some time. The last time we did hear she was expecting to receive a Red Cross appointment and we were hoping, that she would come here for her training.

We are wondering what the new plastic finish is you have for floors etc. Sure wish you would send me a small can so I can try it out. Let me know the cost. We have: a time with heel marks and if that helps keep them from showing I would like, to try it. Was glad to hear Lowell got his transfer. I know that he has been wanting it for some time, and that he dislikes his assignment very much.

We are planning on having Bob's tonsils out in April. He has had better health this winter than any time since he was sick at your place. I don't know whether we should have then out or not, but 1 guess we should do as the doctor says. It may save him some sickness later on.

We hear from Ben every so often and he seems to be enjoying his travels, although he is homesick. I surely hope that the war in Europe will be over before many more weeks. I honestly don't see how it can last much longer.

Well it is late and the way I feel I should have been in bed early. I had to make out my income tax return tonight and as long as I had the typewriter out I thought I would drop you a line to let you know that we are getting along OK.

John

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