Images(12)

[Letters to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Poston, Arizona, October 8, 1943]

Maker Ogawa, Louise

Date1943

Mediumpaper, ink

DimensionsH: 6.25 in, W: 8 in (sheet); H: 3.625 in, W: 6.5 in (envelope)

ClassificationsArchives

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada

Object number93.75.31BS

DescriptionTranscription:
October 8, 1943 / Dear Miss Breed, / Tick tock tick tock goes the clock on my dresser. Yes, the old man time must have ticked a million times since I last wrote to you. I hope this letter finds you fine and dandy and as bright as a sunflower. I certainly missed hearing from you! We are all just fine though the mornings and nights are getting cold. / Nothing much has occurred except for the intestinal flu which is going around camp now. I was very fortunate (?) to have it visit me. If I ate just a little, my stomach notified me of its arrival. I just couldn't eat anything for it would hurt my tummy. I was very sad for I just love to eat! And it so happened we had pie-turnovers; nice juicy grapes--delicious foods all through the day. What a day to be sick!!! It was torture to see all that food just sitting on the tray before me. Well, I am just fine now and am just dying to see those turn-overs again. / We are kept quite busy these days at the office since school will commence Monday, October 11th. The new adobe schools are practically completed. The wooden frame work is painted a pretty blue. I imagine all the children will have a very nice school year with new teachers, books, tables, chairs and above all a new real school. I certainly do envy them! / My girl friends and I often talk of our future. Now I wish I took another major instead of commercial. It may be my depressed mood but I feel after I am outside, I won't be able to make use of my shorthand. I think something like cosmetology or teaching would have been more useful. I always did want to teach English to little children in Japan. But to do that, I will have to have a college education and I did not take a college prep. course. Whenever we discuss these things, we always end up where we started from. / Hisako tells me you are going around telling stories to little children. I imagine you have loads of fun with them. I'd love to listen to you too. / After I tell you the following news, you'll think I joined the band of the moving Poston indians. I am going to move again. We are moving back to block 330 this Tuesday. I'll probably be lost among our belongings for several weeks, like I always am. If I come out of it in one piece, I'll write and inform you of all the trouble we had in the process of moving. But I'll always be glad to hear from you whether I am sandwiched by the suitcases, or in the closet or under the cots. / I am anxious to see tonights movie, This Above All. My girl friends in other relocation centers write and say how much they enjoyed it and now we are going to have the privilege of seeing it. / Having stolen an hour of my working time, I'll get down to business like a good little girl. / Most respectfully, / Louise Ogawa / I just saw the biggest and longest whirl wind. One of the teachers commented that it's like seeing the Old Faithful at her most powerful stage. It was unbelievably large. /

October 10, 1943 / Dear Miss Breed, / After reading your letter, I thought I'd wait until the sweater came. This waiting is killing me. Saturday we had another down-pour so the mail was not delivered. I can hardly wait until tomorrow. Thank you ever so much for all the trouble I caused you! / Thank you for the advice on sewing a ribbon across the back of the neck. I shall do that the very first thing. / Your friend certainly did have a strange experience. I can just imagine how crowded the trains and hotels are by your letter. I'll be sure to have someone go out with me when I go! / Yes, I still am employed at the school office. I am now classified as a stenographer. I take dictation, type letters, Transcriptions to be sent out to various schools where students have entered, take care of the dittoing and mimeography (cutting stencils etc.), file, answer the telephone, and taking care of teachers' reports, memos, etc. This work gives me experience in many different lines. I work 8 hours a day and 4 hours on Saturdays making a 44 hours per week. This is no exaggeration when I say "The high school office is the busiest place in Poston." We certainly work out full 8 hours. Often we work until 10 after five. We're so busy typing etc. that we forget the time until someone points it out. Then we rush home, wash up, and go to the mess hall. I am paid $16.00 a month. / The first few weeks in camp I thought I would be able to save a lot of money but soon found that to be wrong. Though we do not pay for our gas and light, food, transportation, we have expenses. / My girl friend and I are planning to go to night school and take up shorthand. My shorthand is very poor and I would like to know much more. / Last night for the first time in about a year and a half, I went to a circus. I saw the funny clowns and the beautiful ladies on horses. I imagine for many of the little children that was the first, very first, time they saw a circus, though it was not in reality. /
I probably won't get this letter out until Tuesday. But on the other hand, it might not go out for another week if it gets packed with my other things. Here's hoping I'll be more careful. / Please take care of yourself for the cold days are drawing near. / Respectfully, / Louise Ogawa

October 13, 1943 / Dear Miss Breed, / Here I am writing from my new home. I must confess the moving caused me no trouble at all for I was at work all day. / I received the lovely sweater Monday afternoon. The color is fine. I love it!!! Because of the present situation I realize it is not as good quality, shall I say, as the sweaters of last year but Miss Breed, I can not say how much I like it / Thanks a million for everything! I am sorry I did not write sooner but with the house as it is, it was just impossible. I'll be sure to have this letter go out this morning. / Best regards to Miss McNary. / Thank you again. / Most respectfully, / Louise Ogawa;3 letters and envelope sent together from Louise Ogawa to Clara Breed.