Lagniappe

Yesterday while I was looking for clothes-pins in Grandmother's closet, I came across some love letters from World War II. Um, I know. It's like when you read those news stories about people finding a letter from President Lincoln just lying around. You think, Who does that actually happen to?! (Or even, To whom does that actually happen?! :) ) Well, evidently it can happen in a Crowson house.

When I told Grandmother about my discovery, she was so excited and had no idea there had been such a thing in her house. I read them out loud, and when we got through them all, she said, "Well, that's lagniappe!" ("Lagniappe" means an unexpected benefit, or a bonus. She did spend a significant time of her life in Louisiana :) )

So the letters! They are from my great-great-uncle Dow to his wife Lourie (called Ree). He was in the Army and was eventually sent to the Pacific. He left for service in October of 1943 and was shipped out in September of 1944. I found letters from Ree to Dow from January and February of 1944, while he was still in Virginia and letters from Dow to Ree from September 1944 (from on-board ship) into October '44.

They wrote to each other every day. Her letters are funny because she "bawls him out" (her words) for missing a day whenever she doesn't get a letter a particular day. (Evidently, he chose to visit his sister one day (this is while he is still in Virginia) and didn't leave himself enough time to write her. The nerve! :) ) And because she took over his job at the boot-making factory when he left, she talks a lot about the particulars of what she is doing at work and how the machines are always breaking down. His letters are full of talk about how hot it is and how he wishes he could tell her more about what he is doing and where he is. He does mention coconuts and "natives" and leaving New Guinea (once they have been re-stationed), though.

I have to say, however, that my favorite part of the letters is the closings. She signed her letters with some variation of:

Love, your wife.
Ree
(Ree & Dow)

And he always signed his:

From the one who loves you.
Your husband.
Love, Dow.
(Dow & Ree)
I love you.

Seriously. Every time! So cute!