February 6, 1943. Anna writes to Dad. “Today is Eddie’s birthday and he is 24 years old. What an old man he is already.” They are experiencing temperature swings in Albany; one day it is freezing cold and the next day it is warm, muggy and rainy. Little Theresa Marie has a sore throat and has been coughing up a storm. The doctor paid a house call (remember those?) and left some medicine and pills for her. Anna assures Dad that once the weather gets better they will get the baby outside for a picture so both Dad and Stanley can each have a picture.
They got a letter from Eddie’s brother Billy who is stationed at Truax field near Madison, Wisconsin. Below is Billy’s description of the place as Anna relays it:
Description of Truax Field by Billy Lubinski as excerpted in Anna’s letter of February 4, 1943
Anna references Dad’s earlier mention of the wood in the basement. She says “Don’t worry about daddy getting stuck with cleaning the cellar or cutting the wood. Sometimes at night when mama has a few moments she disappears and I can hear sawing in the cellar.” I guess everyone deals with separation in different ways. She also relays “For some time there has been a rumor going around that Adolph Hitler has died…but the reports are not confirmed and the people were told not to rejoice because even if he did die the Germans would not let the rest of the world know.”
Also in the letter is this wonderful depiction of life in the Murawski home:
Excerpt from Anna’s January 6, 1943 letter describing the scene around the house as she is typing her letter to Dad. For the uninitiated, golombki is a traditional polish meal of cabbage stuffed with a mixture of ground meat and rice.
Anna wraps up her letter because the baby is crying and it is time for her 10:00 feeding, but not before telling Dad, “Theresa Marie likes it when you send her your best wishes and regards. In the other letters when you mentioned that you were homesick she would pucker up her face and cry as if she was sympathizing with you. Kind little niece you have, eh?”