1-23-44


Chris to Mother
Social Life


PAA
PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS SYSTEM
EASTERN DIVISION P.O. BOX 3311, MIAMI FLORIDA
Sunday- January 23, 1944
Dinner Key - 11 o'clock
Dear Mother-
Sometimes I wonder what I'd do if I had to work
again under supervision. Here, I am free to do anything I 
like. As Sunday is a quiet day I am the only person
behind the reservations desk. My most difficult task is
to answer the phone and the hundreds of questions put
to me by gaping tourists. The latter I enjoy, as you
may guess. Some of the people are interesting. Throughout
the days Navy ships arrive, bringing men from overseas-
many of whom have not seen the states for more than 
a year. They always want to talk as I'm the first
'white' girl they see. A few times I have run into men
from Mississippi.
Friday afternoon, Betty and I went with the 
South Carolina boys Frank and Bill Rogers to the 
Miami Redistribution Center at Miami Beach. I think 
Iv'e mentioned these boys before - Frank is a
captain in the Army, Bill, a leutenant in the Navy;
Both are from a little town in South Carolina although
they're not related. It just happens that they are
here at the same time - Bill, at the Sub-Chaser School,
and Frank at the Army Redistribution Center. Frank
had just returned from his forty-third mission in 
the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns. Bill has been all 
over the world. It's funny to hear them tell 
about running into each other one day in Africa.
Bill said, Frank walked up and said "Hidy", just
as if he'd seen him the day before, instead of 
a year and a half.
Anyway, we were Frank's guests.  The redistribution
center is located on Miami Beach.  Here, the returning
warriors live like Kings for two weeks or
more, resting up for new assignments.  They are quartered
in swanky hotels, facing the ocean (Prewar prices
ran $25- to $30 per day.)  There are tennis courts, golf
courses, dance floors, and everything imaginable.
(over)


It was a little too cool to go swimming but
we put on our suits and lay in the sun.
Bill and Frank talk so much about the 
folks back home that I know I'd recognize
any number of People if I walked down
Bennettsville's main street. Frank spends most
of his time at our house, reading the 
funny Papers. He asked us to find all the 
old copies he missed. He reads them over 
and over, laughing just like Sonny Boy.
Last night I had a very dull date:
Lt. Dolson from Houston, Texas. He came around
a few days before with a letter of introduction
written by one off our friends who several
months ago left Miami and went to sea. They 
had met in the South Pacific aboard ship and
Larry had given Dolson our names. Bernice had
been listed as 'Pauline Smith'. I wasn't home
when he made his appearance. Last night he 
called, wanting somebody to go out with him and 
I went as I had nothing better to do. I suppose
he is a a very nice boy but for all his opportunities
he certaintly lacks initiative. I thought we'd 
never get home. The only way to get anywhere
here is to fight and push ahead. I'm pretty 
good at it. If you get a cab to stop, it is necessary
to whistle real loud. If a bus stops, it only
does so after you wave wildly in the streets.
Finally, I saw it was up to me to get a ride,
so I did. He was a little like Lois Hannagan,
making asinine statements to which I disagreed
then turning right around and agreeing with
me. This went on all evening. I feel like
shaking the silly thing! He'll call me I'm sure - 
they always do if you don't want them to.
After the war is over, I suppose I'll
be running into friends everywhere that I
knew in Miami. Most of them will not forget
us as they all seemed to enjoy coming into
a house and being treated as if they were
at home. However, it is discouraging to see 
all the fine ones leave. They are the ones who 


PAA
PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS SYSTEM
EASTERN DIVISION, P.O. BOX 3311, MIAMI, FLORIDA
volunteer to go back again. You'd think that
most of them would forget, but nine times
out of ten all get letters after they're gone. 
Had a letter from Martha. I gave 
her some names of hospitals to write to 
down here - I don't suppose she did. I'm
sure she could get a job as dietician if 
she wanted it.
Did I write you that Aylene and Tish
are considering moving here? I answered her 
letter, giving as much information as I could
about housing conditions, etc. Haven't heard 
since then.
We have had fires all week to 
take the chill off. At this point our 
wood pile is dwindling down. From now on
it will be warm except for a few days.
Have you read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"?
Although a bit frank in places it is an
encouraging sort of book. Read it if
you get a chance.
There isn't much to write these days.
A few days ago, Noel Coward was through.
We were excited over seeing and talking
with Annie.
Love,
Chris