Dear Gerry:

     George and I received your letter and were glad to hear you liked "Patience".  It was George's suggestion and I seconded it knowing how much you liked Gilbert and Sullivan.  He is going to see the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company this week doing the "Gondeliers" and "Patience" in person.  I bet you'd like to be with him. yes, no?  He's going to visit Shakespeare's home town and see one of the plays, probably "Othello" on the fourth of July.  Nothing like satisfying your aesthetic tastes, war or no war.  I have so lost touch with the family that it doesn't seem possible that you have graduated from High School and will be going to college this fall.  And imagine Art with two kids.  Of course, I've changed my status a bit, too, so there will be another daughter in the family when I return home.  I guess Eve's age shook everybody at home, but when Irene wrote to her and told her Rita was just her age that shook me.  It hardly seems possible, but of course Eve seems much older than she really is compared to girls in the states.  Now that you're on your vacation I hope you will find time to write to her occasionally.  She shares your enthusiasm for the movies and stage plays and being in London sees all the best of both.  We saw "Midsummer Night's Dream" in the poet's home town and enjoyed it a lot.  Your list of graduation gifts really takes some imagining over here.  It hardly seems possible such things still exist.  The cheapest Ingersoll wrist watch which used to sell for about 2.50 costs over 8 dollars now when you can get one.  You sure were lucky.  End of the page, so Cheerio and write soon and often.

Love,

Thatch