Zelda ~ Letter One
MONDAY NOVEMBER 30TH, 1942
Darling,
Mother called me at work this morning to tell me that there was a letter from you. You can hardly imagine how anxious I was to read it. I was going to stay in for lunch, but I didn’t have the patience to wait until 6 o’clock to read the letter. I just had to get home.
Scotty, I’m terribly sorry that you missed seeing your relatives, but I’m pleased to hear that you were able to speak to them over the phone. How did it happen that they weren’t able to find you at the station?
When this letter reaches you, I hope you will be a bit settled and rested from that long trip. Scotty, how does your throat feel? Be sure to take good care of yourself.
I’m not going to ask you a lot of questions, like if you saw Speedy or what North Sydney is like. I know you will write all in your next letter. I am terribly anxious to hear all about it, so don’t forget to give all the details.
After I left you, Saturday morning, I felt rather depressed. I thought that the best thing to do would be to go shopping right then and there, to get myself sort of lost in the crowd and all the commotion. I bought a gift for the wedding we were to attend on Sunday, and a new black hat with red, white and blue feathers (the latter was purchased to raise my spirits). Anyway, it’s a nice little hat. I must’ve bought some thing else, but I can’t remember what it was on the spur of the moment. Surely, I didn’t walk around for three hours only to purchase those two items.
When I came home, mother greeted me at the door with “What happened - did you miss Scotty at the station?” Dear, when you called her Saturday morning, she was terribly worried that we had missed each other. She had all sorts of thoughts about what may have happened. You said that you would want to know what I’d be doing all day. So I’ll still continue with Saturday. Well, I was so terribly tired I went to sleep and woke up at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. After supper I wrote several more pages to the folks and I mailed both our letters. I enclosed a snapshot of the enlarge the picture you have of me. I hope that they like it. After all, it will be their first glimpse of me. Tell me what they write you about the letter and picture. Scotty, I asked for one of your graduation pictures. Do you think it was all right for me to do that? I really don’t want to trouble them, and I had already asked for it, so I didn’t back out of it, because I really would love to have that picture of you.
I opened an account this afternoon at the Royal Bank of Canada, Bathurst and College Street. I deposited your check and the money. The account is under my name, it couldn’t be arranged otherwise.
About the ring, dear. I wish you were here to choose it for me. I feel strange picking it out myself, I still don’t like the idea. But, you said that you wanted it that way. So, I have already made arrangements. I should be able to see samples tomorrow afternoon. Scotty, I believe I may be able to buy it without the 25% tax and then get it at a wholesale price. I’ll let you know all about it. I wish you were here to choose it though.
I want to write several letters to Winnipeg tonight. I must write them. My uncle Lou, must’ve mentioned something to my other relatives about us, and they will be terribly sore at me for not hearing about my engagement from me personally. I believe I’ll call the Zeleneys and Hersheys tomorrow night. I really want to get a few things done tonight and it is 8:55 already, at this moment. I want to find out if Dave has done anything about enlarging our pictures. I doubt it, because I know he must be terribly busy working all day and in the evenings also.
Scotty, don’t forget to write me about everything. What it’s like out there, what you were doing, whether you like it, and all the rest. Have you written home?
I went to the wedding ceremony with Min on Sunday. It was called for 4:30, but as usual, we waited around for almost 2 hours before anything started to happen. Scotty, you didn’t miss out on any wedding supper, (doesn’t it make you feel better), they only had a sweet table, so my parents tell me. The ceremony was too rushed, they had Rabbi Zimmerman, and I don’t believe I ever heard anyone talk so fast. I wouldn’t want him to marry me.
I almost forgot to tell you, I dropped in at Dora’s place before I went to the wedding ceremony. Sam and Max were there. Sam says he almost fainted away when door I told him about us. Nevertheless, he seems very pleased about it and he asked me to send you his best wishes.
Dear, I would love to write more, but I really must write those other letters. I’ll probably ride tomorrow again, and I’ll have more news for you. Scotty, you forgot those extra pictures of your mother. I’ll enclose them, because I know that you’d like to have them.
Scotty, you needn’t worry about my folks liking you, they think you are 'tops.'
So long for now dear, and don’t forget that all my love goes with this letter.
Zelda
Zelda ~ Letter Two
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1ST, 1942
Dearest Scotty,
I left for work quite late this morning and therefore was still here when the postman brought the morning now. It was so very dark out this morning that I couldn’t believe it was time to get out of bed. Very miserable outside. Very wet snow and it’s all melted by the time it reaches the ground. I know you wouldn’t like it. I think at this moment I would much rather prefer some of the good old Winnipeg snowfalls.
You certainly haven’t had any luck Scotty in the way of meeting your friends and relatives. I can just see how disappointed you looked when he received Speedy’s wire. Golly, I’m sorry you missed him. Of all the luck. When will he be passing through Toronto, dear?
Do you know that today is our anniversary? One month today, and you’re so far away. I haven’t called anyone yet. I said that I would call Betty, I will as soon as I finish this letter. I got home only about an hour ago. It just happened that I met a number of people I know and they heard of our engagement, and naturally I had to stop and speak to them. The girls were angry at me, they wanted to know why I didn’t phone them and tell them all about it. I also met Sid Rosove. I didn’t even know that he knew about us. He stops me and congratulate me, and says “looks like I won’t be able to come up and visit you anymore.” I told him that he needed to take that attitude and that he was welcome at any time (I hope that you don’t mind, dear.) And, oh yes, I forgot to tell you when I was at Min’s place Sunday night (remember I mentioned Max Bakalinsky), well he comes walking in right up to me and showers me with his best wishes. You can hardly imagine my surprise. There was a house full of people there who know him, and they know how he had been taking me out quite often. He was at my house, he apparently came over to call on me, and my mother and dad told him about us. He wanted to know where I was. They told him, and then he came marching into Min’s place.
Scotty, you have probably noticed that I forgot to enclose the picture of your mother. Now, you found out that I am absent minded. After I had mailed the letter to you, I came back into the house, and noticed the picture lying on the table. Must not forget it this time.
I wrote three letters yesterday. One to my dad’s brother, he’s my uncle Ben. Another to my cousin Anne and her new husband, and the other one to my cousin Anne’s sister Min. They are my dad’s nieces, and the closest to me, at least that’s the way I feel about them. I’ll write the Ghans, and Cohens on Thursday. You see tomorrow is Wednesday and I’m going to attend my meeting, and I won’t have a chance to write anyone.
It seems strange coming home every evening knowing that you won’t be there for supper. Like this I used to rush home from work to be on time, knowing that you will be there waiting, and you once told me that you can’t stand anyone that’s late.
Remember, I told you someone would bring me some diamond rings to look at. Well, I saw them this afternoon. They are worth $100, sales tax extra, actually. He is asking $65 for them. Well, there wasn’t one that I actually liked. I didn’t like the settings. He said that he would bring me a few others that I may like. Scotty there was one there that is regular $125, tax extra, that he also wants $65 for, but I thought was rather nice. In fact it’s beautiful, but there is one fault. The diamond has a flaw in it. Of course I can’t tell by looking at it, nor will anyone else tell with a glimpse. However, you can detect it if you look through a magnifying glass. Mother and Dad say they don’t like the idea of a diamond with a flaw, that they would rather have the smaller diamond, but it should be perfect. What do you think about it? You see if the diamond is perfect, for example, you can always sell it at its market value, whereas if there is some defect in the diamond it isn’t worth a cent, if it was to be resold. You do understand that, don’t you Scotty. I’m sure I will be able to pick something I like from the new samples he will bring me. You see he only brought me three rings to pick from today, so I’m really not that fussy. I still wish you were here to help me with the ring, I want to get something you will like, after all it is your ring.
Darling, it’s getting late already, I still want to iron a few of my things, maybe take a peek at today’s paper. I haven’t even seen the comics today.
Write me what you are doing, what it’s like out there. Have you any friends there yet? There are so many questions that I can think of asking you, but, I’m sure you will tell me everything in your letters.
The family sends their regards to you and they want you to keep well. I will write soon, dear.
All my love,
Zelda
Zelda ~ Letter 3
THURSDAY DECEMBER 3RD, 1942
Dearest Scotty,
I received your second letter today from North Sydney. I didn’t have any mail from you yesterday and I missed hearing from you terribly. You say that you haven’t received any of my mail. Well, dear, this is my fourth letter to you and I wouldn’t miss writing to you for anything in the world. Perhaps my first letter will be a little late, for as I said before, I sent it to the other address. But, surely it must have been forwarded to you by this time.
Maybe it is for the better dear that there is another pharmacist there already. Surely, you cant be posted any further away from me, unless of course it is on the Pacific Coast (heaven forbid). But, we’ll have to hope its somewhere near here or Winnipeg. Keep your fingers crossed. I attended my meeting on Wednesday night. I really shouldn’t call it a meeting, but get together - after all thats what it is. The girls get together, play cards and gossip. It was at my girl friend Marcia’s place. It was a very successful turnout, I believe there were eighteen girls there. Everyone was surprised to hear about our engagement (Min made an announcement). You should have seen all the girls then. Everyone was talking at once. They wanted to know how it happened, when, what you looked like, where you were, etc. Questions by the dozens came flying at me. Everyone was just too pleased, they showered their best wishes on me and really were so thrilled that it is really difficult to describe Scotty, how they made me feel. Well, I stole the show that evening. However, I wasn’t very successful at the rummy games that night. I suppose I didn’t have my mind on the game, or the cards didn’t come, or I’ll just say they were better players than myself. At any rate, I didn’t even win one game that night.
Min and Max were over here last night. We just sat around, and chatted about all sorts of things until almost midnight.
Let’s see now, what were we discussing last time… Oh yes, Max’s work, when the kids are getting married - something about our wedding - naturally Min and I had something to say about clothes. Oh, I do wish you were here too, to be with us.
I’m not going to do anything tonight. I just washed my hair and I’ll let it dry while I’m writing to you. I wish I had something of interest to write you. I’m afraid that you are going to be disappointed in my letters.
Scotty, have you heard from home yet? And have you written to your brother in Cleveland that you are in North Sydney? What time are you through working at the dispensary? When do you write your letters?
I was very glad to hear that your throat is all healed up now, and that you can taste your tobacco. I’ll bet the latter bothered you more than anything else.
I wrote my cousins, the Cohens, in Winnipeg about our engagement. I take it easy. I write one letter a day to Winnipeg. Very shortly, I will have made the rounds of all my relatives, and will begin awaiting answers to all my letters. I’m really anxious to hear what they have to say.
Do you think you would like to stay in North Sydney if you had your choice? That is if the other fellow was willing to leave? Or shouldn’t I ask such silly questions. But, I’m so impatient - I’m really anxious to know what will happen, Scotty.
Tomorrow is Saturday. One week since I’ve seen you. It’s a terribly long time. I’ll probably spend my afternoon downtown, and take in a show in the evening. I’ll write to you about it.
In the meantime, keep on writing. I love to hear from you.
Regards from Mother, Dad and Lawrence, and Min and Max said I shouldn’t forget to send theirs.
I’ll write soon, Darling.
Love,
Zelda
Zelda ~ Letter 4
SUNDAY DECEMBER 6TH, 1942
Dearest Scotty,
Sunday morning. All week I've been looking forward to it. However, there won't be any mail today. I don't like that. Because that's another thing I look forward to.
Scotty, I don't understand what you have't received any of my letters yet. Are the postal facilities so poor that you don't have a daily service? You'll probably receive all my letters at once.
I'm glad that you have found some secluded little place where you can write your letters and do your reading; I know you'll enjoy that.
You just can't seem to get away from that typewriter. In Toronto or in North Sydney. are you still taking the place of Medical Clerk, dear? But, what's the difference what you are doing, as long as you will be doing your work when you are actually posted.
I know my letters are going to sound funny to you dear until we get our mail straightened out. You will receive my letters with questions in them that you had probably answered (it will seem) ages ago. It is rather difficult to write when actually I haven't had any of my letters.
You were saying Scotty that you were going to inquire about your leave and ask if you would be allowed to leave on the seventh this month. If permission is granted, this letter won't even reach you in time. Do you now see what I mean about getting our letters straightened out? But, of course, you weren't sure about getting that furlough.
I most certainly would want you to go home to Winnipeg for at least a week, no matter how much I would like you here. I know your parents and friends are just as anxious to see you as I am, and I know they must have hundreds of things to say to you, and I can just imagine all the questions they will want answers to. I wish I was able to go to Winnipeg for that week, but we will make it some other time in the near future together. I'd just love to meet all your friends dear, although I will admit that I'll be a little scared. But maybe I won't be when I actually arrive in Winnipeg. I'll probably get used to the idea on the train. I'll have plenty of time to calm down then.
When your leave is granted, I believe it would be better to go home first (only my opinion), and then spent the last part of your furlough in Toronto. My reason for saying that is that when you're here, you won't have anything on your mind about still having to be in Winnipeg. And then you will be able to tell me how you spent your time in Winnipeg, personally - not by writing to me. But of course dear, it is up to you. You may do as you like, and how you feel it is best. You may have another opinion on the matter and your reason may be the better one.
Did you attend that wedding you wrote me about? If you did, don't forget to tell me about it.
I was downtown yesterday, but I didn't have a thing to buy. Min, however wanted me to go along with her. She had a few things to buy, so I went along.
Saw "To Be or Not to Be" with Jack Benny last night. Min saw it before and thought that is was very good, but I really didn't get such a great kick out of it.
I'm going over to Min's place tonight. She is having two couples over. But I'll drop in to see Sam and Dora for an half hour or so.
My auntie is over now with the two children, and it is pretty difficult for me to write more than a half a page without being interrupted. You should see the little baby, it's really a sight to see her walking across the room. She's a honey.
I miss you terribly, dear. I wish you were only posted to a place around here. At least you would be here on weekends.
I'll probably have a few letters from Winnipeg tomorrow. That is, from my relatives. I'll see what they have to say.
I believe I'll call up Lillian tomorrow, see how she is getting along. I imagine she would like to know how you are getting along also.
I'm not even dressed yet. I'm just sitting around in my housecoat. This is my lounging day, and the only day I'm a Lady of Leisure. It sure is a nice feeling, but one can be terribly lazy that way, and I don't think I like that very much.
Scotty, I wish I could express myself better than I do in my letters. I know you won't think much of them, after the letters you've received from some of your other friends. Maybe you will have some pointers for me after I see you again. If there is anything you would like to know that I haven't written you about, don't hesitate to ask me.
Nothing else to write now. I'll be waiting for your letter tomorrow. As usual, the family reminds me to send their regards to you.
Will write more tomorrow.
Love,
Zelda
Zelda ~ Letter 5
Dearest Scotty,
I was so very happy to hear from you today, to hear that you had at least received one letter from me. Scotty, if your leave does come through, this letter will probably not reach you.
Before I go any further, I must tell you that I received two wonderful letters this morning. One was from your Mother and the other from Anne. Two very nice letters. I would enclose them Scotty because I would like you to read them, but as I said before they may not reach you in time. So, I’ll just wait ’til you get here and then have you read them. It certainly was good of Anne to write to me first. Remember dear, you said that you thought I had better drop her a line first. They also sent me your picture. It was grand of them to go to the trouble of sending it and I must write them as soon as possible and tell them how much I appreciate their doing so. Scotty, my folks could hardly believe that it was your picture. They didn’t recognize you, all dressed up (I probably wouldn’t either if I saw you in civilian clothes). One of these days, you will have to surprise me - grow a moustache, and then come walking up to our place.
I certainly hope that your Mother has another picture like that of you, because it would have been alright if she had sent me the negative. I’m going to buy a frame for the picture tomorrow, that is if I can get an extra hour off for lunch. I’ll get a frame for the Hershies picture also.
Scotty, for the past ten minutes I’ve been sitting here, sort of staring into space. I don’t know why, but for a minute I couldn’t think of anything to write, yet my head is full of things and different thoughts that I would write about. I imagine I’ve just been dreaming, and I’d better snap out of it and continue with this letter. All sorts of thoughts had been running through my mind - what we’ll do when you get here; switched back to Winnipeg and thought about your parents and was trying to imagine what they would say when they saw me; again I was back to Toronto planning where we would go, and how to make the most of every minute that you are to be here. My brain is just a jumble mumble now.
Dear, I enjoyed reading Betty’s letter, I like the way she scolds you. After reading Anne’s letter and now Betty’s, I believe I’d be right in saying that they are both entirely different in character. There is such a great difference in both letters. But of course, I may be wrong, because after all one was written to me and the other to you, and people do write differently to a person they know well and to someone who is to become their future relative.
Dear, I don’t understand Betty. Did you tell Anne you were engaged to me before you wrote your Mother? I don’t remember that. I believe you told Anne about your girl friend only. And then she wrote you back, remember the letter you showed me. I believe your Mother understands dear, and I don’t believe she was hurt, it did happen so fast that we ourselves didn’t tell my parents who were right here any sooner. I believe Scotty that you wrote home first, and that they knew about it in Winnipeg before they did here. Of course they did. I remember now. When we wrote Dorothy and Danny Guskin (?) the little note, you told them that we were engaged, and that was Sunday. We didn’t even tell my folks until about Wednesday. But, what’s the difference now. They all know about it.
I was at Dora’s place last night for a few minutes (she was leaving for a concert). I told her that you may have your furlough and she was very pleased to hear it. She told me that she didn’t think that you would be going home to Winnipeg for a week. I told her that you were, but she said that she still didn’t think so. I do want you to see your Mother and Dad and all the others, and I know you’ll be looking forward to seeing Winnipeg again.
By reading your letters, I can tell that you are really enjoying your work out there. I’m so terribly happy. I hope when you get a definite posting you will enjoy your work as well, but lets pray its somewhere around here.
The description of your surroundings are certainly picturesque. They sound like something out of a poetry book.
There are quite a few things I must get done today. I have ironing to do again, I must call some of my friends on the phone, I have a few letters to write - I actually believe I’m busy. Honestly, they are such little things, but they must be done, and it is surprising the time they do take up. And truly I haven’t so very much time when I get home from work. You saw that yourself. Time does fly! I wish I had more time. I haven’t been had a chance to read a book for such a long time.
The radio is on now, “The Firestone Hour.” They are playing “The Dance of the Hours” now. Its beautiful, I wish you could hear it. Or perhaps you were listening?
I’m glad that Pat sent you at least half the money. You’ll probably be able to get the rest when you are here yourself.
It will be wonderful to see you again. I can hardly wait. Dont forget exactly what time you are coming. Write me. I must meet you at the station, and I shall be on time dear. I have your picture sitting up on the bookcase now, and I’m always taking a peek at it. I’m writing this letter on the bridge table in the living room.
I really must say goodbye for now darling, but I’ll write again tomorrow. Take good care of yourself and be the good boy your Mother and sister tell me you are (as if I didn’t know).
I miss you. All my love,
Zelda