Latrine Rumors, Proposal Hint, and the Onyx Ring. 1942-12-15
1942 December 15
Tuesday nite
About 9:30
Beloved Vietta: —
The salutation comes not only deep from my heart, but it really is your name. ViaAnnetta translated from ancient Greek and Saxon means beloved, lovely, graceful, and charming. I checked on it through a book I sent for and that’s what your name means. I agree with it wholeheartedly ‘cause that’s exactly what you are — My two given names mean “Helper of men” and “He who shall increase.” I hope the last one doesn’t mean in weight.
I wrote a note to you last nite and in it I mentioned that I haven’t heard from you in a whole week. Gosh! When I do hear from you, it’s really a big BANG! Your package came today and I hardly know what to say except to thank you with everything I possess. Gee, sweet, it was swell of you — and the presents were so fine — just what I can use and need, too. The leather carry-all is just the correct size ‘cause all I use is a writing pad. It certainly helps to keep my paper and envelopes in shape for they were always scattered about in my foot locker. Now I can keep all my stationery well placed and handy. The book is marvelous! All I’ve had time for is just a glance, but I can see where I’ve a lot of interesting reading to do. Every time I turn a page, I’ll think of you, darling.
“Acey-Deucy” should be a good pastime. I read thru the directions and I can see a lot of fun ahead — especially when a man gets into the doghouse (that’s one place I’ll stay out of when it concerns you, love.) I’m looking forward to when we can play the game together — not only “Acey-Deucy,” but a more permanent one, too —
Thank the kids for their present. Kiss Kay for me and shake Richard’s hand.
Incidentally, I’m making use of your gift already. Just couldn’t wait, hon, you’re always first in everything I do.
The latest “latrine rumor” and guessing game in the vicinity is speculating when we’re to be paid. We've signed the payroll three times already, but as yet no do-re-mi has been forthcoming. Boy! And could we use it! Pay day is 15 days overdue now and there’s no folding money in all of Camp Butner. With Xmas so near the situation is becoming desperate. Worry! Worry! Worry! I hate to send home for money ‘cause the folks just sent me a money order a short while ago. Part of it went to pay the cleaning bill of my G.I. wardrobe and the rest of it I need to pay the collect charges on my “Stomach Steinway” when it gets here. Should be any day now. Your Toni has some plain and fancy figuring to do - but fast.
Don’t know if you’ve seen the enclosed snaps. Pat sent ‘em to me . Keep them for me, please?
Somebody tried pulling a practical joke today and it backfired on our H.Q. company. There was a notice tacked onto our bulletin board and it read: “Those men who have not been paid this month will report to the Orderly Room at 1800 (6 o’clock) to draw their money. Signed Capt. Tom Lemay.” Naturally we all took it seriously and everybody was very happy. It turned out to be a joke, but the C.O. didn’t think so. It was pretty much of a let-down for us to find out it was fake. We were all restricted to the company area along with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalion headquarters companies. It’ll stay that way until the guilty man comes forward and admits it. I don’t think any man in our company did it ‘cause they're not like that. It must have been some man from one of the other outfits that come to learn radio from us. Anyhow, the whole affair caused quite a commotion for it’s a serious offense to use an officer’s name like that. I’ll let you know what happens about this incident.
I’m still hoping, praying, and trying for a furlough, darling. I know it won’t be until sometime in January — I only hope it will be then and not any later. It’s not only that I want to be home, Vi, it’s that I want to see you and be with you and — well — and just everything. While I’m on this pleasant subject of you, Vietta, there’s something I must settle and get out of my system. For quite a while now I’ve been writing and hinting about a certain subject — you know what it is — you should have an idea of it now — it’s you and I. That’s the main reason I want a furlough. I could write it and tell you what’s in my heart, and has been there for a long, long, time — but you may think the same as I — that it’s better to wait until we’re together and I can tell you and ask you more personally. Do you think it’s better that way, or would you rather have it in black and white? — I know that you care for me, beloved, you’ve told me that — Do you care enough to encourage me to further my dreams now? And make me the happiest man alive? — I’ll be in an awful dither and the suspense will be terrific until I get an answer to all this from you, so make it soon and relieve my poor brain. I’m really very confused and tongue-tied (or is it pen-tied?) ‘cause a man doesn’t do things like this but once in a lifetime —
I wonder if I’m taking a bit too much for granted? —
D’you remember the time I asked you to wear that black onyx ring, darling? I told you there was a little story connected with it. This is it — When my mom passed away — that’s just before she died — she gave me that ring and told me that the person to whom I gave it must mean a great deal to me — that she should be one whom I deeply loved and had faith in and trusted. In other words, Vietta, she was describing you ——
Goodnite, beloved, with all my simple and sincere love,
Toni
P.S. Can’t ever close a letter without Casey - He’s one of the family, you know.
x
T.
Vietta holding Joan while wearing the onyx cameo ring, early 1950s.
The ring up close. It’s from the 1910s, over 100 years old. The shank of the ring has been replaced recently because the original band was worn through. However, the new shank kept the same split design as the original. The figure is holding a cornucopia, leading me to believe that it depicts the Greek goddess Demeter. "Though Demeter is often described simply as the goddess of the harvest, she presided also over the sacred law, and the cycle of life and death."
The ring on my hand.
Toni with his mom Ida Butkiewicz née Lubinski. Ida died in 1937 when Toni was 18 or 19 years old. The ring became Vietta's engagement ring, and she continued to wear it throughout the years. Original Letter
