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Fran to her Mom & Dad; Oct. 25, 1945  Oak Ridge, TN  

14. Fran to her Parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Carroll

         from Oakridge

                                                                                                Oct. 25, 1945

 Dear Mother and Dad,

  Went fishing in the Tennessee—trapped one fish!  That is, Bill did, in the middle of the afternoon of sitting in the sun.  A group of fellows a hundred yards- however far that is- from us pulled fish in one right after the other.  We used bread dough mixed with cotton for bait which the fish did not find as palatable as the worms next door, understandably I think, but someone told us that bread dough was just what the Tennessee fish liked best.  I did have three nibbles—first time in my life I almost caught a fish.  I remember that time we tried to feed some fish in a clear brook out for a walk one day & the great big things lay on the bottom ignoring us and the bait.

 We purchased a mailbox last night finally- all that remains is to plant it.  It’s dark when we get home at night so I guess it’ll be Saturday before the job is done.  The stores close at 5:30 and some others at 6:00.  All there are in Lenoir City are hardware stores, grocery, a tiny 5 & 10 and a J.C. Penney which is something like a Sears Roebuck.  One bus from work arrives in town approximately 5:29.  So we do a lot of rushing around if we have to buy during the week.

 We have a tough time buying because every time we’re about to acquire something we must consider whether, when Bill is discharged, we’ll move onto the Area & will we want to lug the proposed item along with us.  And if we don’t stay here, will we want to take it & if not could we sell—and why don’t we do without it entirely until we find out what we’ll be doing this year.

 I wrote to Phyl yesterday to her new address.  She didn’t tell me yet what she’s got.  She says Bob is finishing the second & that you’re coming to NYC.  Wish I were going to be there to see you all & Bob.  Though I haven’t been gone very long, have I?  I must write to Bobbie & find out what he’s going to do with his life after graduation.

 Madeleine’s Jim came home from New Foundland on furlough & is going to be discharged in a month.  So she’ll be leaving Nash Bldg & probably New York, too.

 Helen Wright wrote & said that Kay & Harry Dreyer- you know, the small, blond girl that had that big house out in Canton- has moved to North Carolina.  I hope Helen can get the specific address & maybe I could travel over & see her.  Course she was in New Jersey a while when I was in New York & I never did.  But now that’s it’s a little more difficult but not impossible, I might make it.

 My job down here is a racket.  Haven’t done more than a few hours work since I started.

                                                        Love, Fran