Luxembourg

March 5, 1945

Dearest Helen,

Sy was just giving me Roseruth’s account of the Sunday you and Edith visited in Baltimore. In augmenting your version, I gather that she likes you very much and that your brand of humor had everyone in high spirits. So, I casually polish my nails on my lapel (?) and say “That’s my girl.” – but the thoughts that run through my head are not so casual. When I think of countless things you’ve said, of how you’ve looked on certain specific occasions – of incidents shared – I am rewarded with a certain inner glow accompanied by a quickening of the pulse rate. When things like that happen they cannot be considered casual.

Meanwhile, the grind grinds on – punctuated by an occasional pass – usually unsatisfactory – but sometimes very pleasant like the time I was able to get back to Luxembourg City and visit some of the friends I’d made. I visited two different families and my welcome was such that I can only say that it will be surpassed only when I get home. I saw Dr. Thys and his family – and the moment I stepped into the door I was well nigh smothered by his three youngsters. I was plied with rare vintages, fed like a prince and generally catered to in a way that had almost been forgotten. The three kids all insisted on sitting on my lap at once – and since there was no denying them, they did just that. So, in this congenial atmosphere we talked and sipped coffee and liqueur in pleasant surroundings.

Thence to visit the Peschongs, where I was greeted like a returning son. Their happiness was so sincere, it was almost like going into my own home. Old Mr. Peschong is quite a guy. He’s partially deformed due to some sort of paralysis, but this doesn’t deter him from being a cheerful, sparkling character. Here I was again plied with the usual vintages – brought up from the cellar where they’d been hidden. After a while, I must confess that I was beginning to feel the effects, but every time I would attempt to stay M. Peschong from refilling my empty glass he would say “– But, this is a great occasion” – so what could I do.

All in all it was a wonderful day – and when it was time to leave, I was reminded of how I would leave you to catch the train or bus back to camp. Of course, the situations were very different – need I amplify? – and then too. I didn’t break any windows during my leave taking here.

When I finish this letter, I am going to prepare the spaghetti from your package which I’ve been saving – (or perhaps I should say hoarding) – and you know what my analogy for spaghetti is, don’t you? So if you take offense at my leaving you for spaghetti, just bring the analogy to mind, and I’ll be forgiven – perhaps even urged.

My regards to your folks and the girls and to you I send –

All my love,
Ted