August 8, 1842  Wendover Field Utah

Dear Donna,

Well, the big day is over.  I’m older according to the calendar than I was supposed to be two days ago.  But what has got me concerned is how did you know when my birthday was?  Not that I care or anything like that, because that would be foolish.  But I was curious anyway.  Now it is only far that I find out when you celebrate yours.  It’s nice to have a birthday once in a while but it makes a guy feel awfully old all of a sudden.  But that has to be expected.

You didn’t tell me whether I could have a picture of you.  I really like that one of you that you have on your piano, but one like that is too big to pack around, but I would love to have one of you.  Pretty please. 

I’d hate to think that all of Utah could be judged by this place.  But it is Utah and I like it just the same.  It’s close enough to Salt Lake to make it possible to go there on a 24 hour pass of which I have already won.  I went to Elko to spend my birthday with Dad.  It was really nice, but I sure lost a lot of sleep.  I left here at midnight, night before last, and arrived there at 3 in the morning.  I left there at 1am this morning and arrived here at the field at 4:30 am and then got up at 7:30.  Now tonight I am in charge of quarters, so I won’t be able to get a whole lot of sleep tonight either.  I got the duration and 6 months to make it up though. 

If I can come into Salt Lake next Sunday the 16^th and if I can get the folks to drive up, would you do me the wonderful and delightful favor of coming up with them?  I can’t guarantee that I would be able to come in, but I am sure going to try my best and I would like so much to see you.  I’ll wire the folks and let them know for sure if I can get off.  If I can, I hope that I will be able to see you also.  It wouldn’t be possible for me to come on down there too, although I would like to.  24 hours won’t last that long. 

I wish I could help you to make a full week of your vacation next week.  Maybe after we get to permanent station, we will be able to get a furlough again.  That should be possible in about a couple more months.  I hope that is how it will turn out. 

Say, I have got myself an unknown admirer or something.  Your niece, Helen Pratt, sent me a very nice letter requesting that I do some confiding with her.  I thought that it was very cute.

There are every kind of bug that can be imagined flying around the light in the office.  They get in your hair, down your back and really make a genuine nuisance of themselves.

Have been threatening to climb up on one of the mountains that are close to town just for the fun of it, but when I have the time, I haven’t got the ambition.  And when I’ve got enough ambition, I haven’t got enough time.

Well, Donna, I can’t think of much more to say right now and I am a little sleepy (old age).  So I guess I’ll close this letter for tonight and last but not least, thanks for the swell birthday card.  You’d be surprised how descriptive id was in regards to how I spent part of my anniversary.

Thanks a million and lots of love,

Wayne