Letter, Irene Conole to her mother
A letter from Irene Conole to her mother asking for advice about a marriage proposal. Irene explains that after spending a day in Washington, D.C. with a man named Gil, he proposed to her. She has told Gil that she needs time to think about it. Irene reports that Gil is thirty-six years old and has been divorced. She expresses relief that he can still be considered a good Catholic since his first marriage was by a Justice of the Peace and therefore not recognized by the Church. Irene tells her mom about Gil’s family and assures her that he can make a good living, but confesses that she is “still slightly scared of marriage.”
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22 December 1953
Dear Mom,
I am writing to just you for I need
a woman to woman talk with you. I am
slightly confused and also a little sick to
my stomach.
First of all, you know Gil, the one
who sent me the rosary from Italy and
wrote and called me when I was home
on leave? Well I met him in Washington
Sunday (20 Dec) morning at 5:00am at the
bus station. I had made reservations
Friday night at a very nice hotel when I
received his wire. We had a wonderful
time. Last night we were in this one
place and when whe of he grabbed a cigarette
I grabbed his lighter to light it for him.
His lighter usually doesn’t light on the
first try so I bet him it would when
I tried it and he bet it wouldn’t well
I won the bet. So he asked me what I wanted
within reason. I stated a 1950 Pontiac and
of course I was kidding and he knew it.
We finally left the place and went to
the White Tower for a cheeseburger and then
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back to the hotel. He stopped off at my
room and we were talking while I was
packing my suitcase. Well he asked me if
I remembered the bet and I said yes. So he
asked me if I wanted to go to the West
coast and pick it up or go in partner-
ship with him. Boy, I was amazed! I asked
what he meant by partnership. You know
that, that man wants to marry me! I
told him that I would have to think
about it and he said I could let him
know by wire when he hits San Francisco
which will be the end of February I
told him that I hope I don’t hurt him
whatever my answer will be and he says
that he knows I won’t intentionally. He
is thirty-six and he will be thirty-seven
3 Jan. Remember me mentioning that he
was married and divorced? Well I
thought he was married in a Catholic
church but I misunderstood him for
he was married by the Justice of the Peace
because his wife wasn’t Catholic. He
had known her since they were kids
together. He was married for five years
but they didn’t get along too well towards
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the end and then they didn’t live together
for two years and after that she filed
for divorce. Well he went to the priest
to find out if he was excommunicated
from the church. The priest said no for
due to being married by the Justice of the
Peace the Catholic church didn’t recognize
their marriage. So he goes to Mass and
Communion every Sunday which is good
and makes me happy. He can’t have any
children but that doesn’t faze me. I like
h him very much but you know how
I am still slightly scared of marriage.
I would love to say yes and if I do he
wants us to both take thirty days leave
after July and he wants to meet my family
first and then take me to Oklahoma
to meet his. I believe there are eleven
kids in his family and two of them
have died. He has a sister who is adopted
and she is definitely considered one of the
family and knows it. I think that when
she was five she had spinal mengitis
and left her one foot crippled. I know
you would like him and so would dad.
He has been all over and he can make a
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good living in civilian life. He loves to
prepare meats and the sauce for meals and
he is good at it. He took me to the bus
station and kissed me goodbye. He thinks
I am wonderful. When the bus was
pulling out of the station I waved to him
and boy I hated to leave him. He crossed
his fingers and that I knew was for
my answer in February. He knows that
I am going to talk it over with b you first.
I’ve never met a guy like him and I think
the age is perfect. I’m so nervous that
I am making mistakes. Boy I never felt
like this when I was going with Sam!
Well what do you think? If it does work
out yes should I write you and dad and
state that I am getting married or will
you tell him? I can get out of the Navy
now if I should marry.
Before I forget. Call Vis Dressmakers
in the Cresent bldg and ask her about
my dress. She hasn’t sent it yet. I’m
quite sure that is her name. Rose
Giralies knows her name too.
Also I received your other package
today and I love your slippers you
sent. Going to keep them for good.
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Aunt Anna sent me a Xmas card
plus a letter and also two dollars. She
claims Arline’s Xmas gift cost more
than mine so she sent me the difference.
She is great.
I also received nineteen Xmas
cards today. Doing okay I’d say.
Well I’ll close and wait for
your answer.
Love and Kisses
Irene