Wandering Hiker

In the mountains of California

I took a hike

With the creator of Beat Saber

We walked past the remnants

Of a tiny house which burned

Two years earlier with a small boy

Trapped inside

It was never rebuilt due to

The remoteness

The sadness

The ghost

At the top of the mountain

We stumbled across a grizzly bear

Who grew in size and stature

When it became aware of us

Running back down the mountain

It took chase

Until a black bear ambushed it

Scratching and frothing and tearing with teeth

The whole mountain rumbled

My companion and I were separated

I'd gone left and he'd gone right

Coming to a cliff's edge

I'd made the wrong choice

But ever prepared

I took out my climbing gear

And repelled down the mountain

The boy's shade chattered at me the whole way down

The bears continued to thunder above

Asleep and Back

I fell asleep

In Brown County, Indiana

On the forest floor

Amidst the mist and the daddy long legs

I woke up in St. Louis

Where my father ushered me

And my entire extended family

Into his brand new

Super Sized

Toyota Previa

While heading south out of the city

We drove under a sky filled

With hot air balloons

We made it to New Orleans around dawn

And started walking through the city

Throwing back Bloody Marys

Trying to avoid fights

Before motoring home

Finally back in Ohio

I walked my 30 pound Wheaton Terrier Poodle Mix

To the end of our road

Where she found a bone bigger than her

Then sat down and started gnawing at it

I stood there wondering what animal was that big

Until my curiosity grew bored

Then I watched the traffic go by

August 31st, 1945

31 August 45

Matzenbach, Germ.

My darling;

Another good day on mail Aug 17th thru 25th, all at one time too. So I should be able to write you a nice letter tonight.

The latest dope I can find out around here is the 7th armored is going home in October and the 3rd sometime in December. Don’t mention this month to mom cause she will sure expect me home then. This was given to us by the General today. So it should be pretty good information.

Honey. How did you ever get tied up in on an election board? I should have given you something to keep you busy, such as a baby, what do you say.

Betty there were a lot of the 489th men now in this Battalion but there isn’t any you know. You can mention to Bill Z, that Johnson his old driver is in my new battery.

I think I’ve answered your questions about Xmas presents. Remember keep them at home. Please don’t send them to me here.

It rains most of the day. So that always adds to the displacement work. Had to go to a G.4 meeting, which fell thru and this afternoon I got another 10 ton of coal. So I’m pretty well stocked up. Got 72 ton of coal coming Tuesday. So have a big day then.

Well darling be good. I sure hope I’m home for Xmas. That is my new hope tonight.

All my love

Jack

Betty you asked what was in that glass kit I sent home. If you would read my letters you would know. Again. That was my escape kit and contains everything from fish hooks to candy. Most of it is concentrated food. Now do you know what it is?

P.S. Read the note to grandma and then give it to her, if you think it ok.