Paris, France

November 30, 1945

Dear Mom,

Winter is certainly coming - and fast. It continues to get colder and stays pretty gray and hazy.

The coffee came last Saturday and I certainly was surprised to find the pajamas with it. I've been wearing them since and find them almost too warm! Many thanks for the package. I'm glad you bought the Barrington coffee and not the G. Washington. This is by far the better.

Things are still confused about continuation of the work. It seems now that it may continue until Dec. 31. The French Ministry of Education is interested in continuing the program and may do so if the Army does not.

The Director asked the other day how many would want to continue their studies on a civilian basis. He is trying to set it up on the same basis as people discharged to work here in that you still get transportation home. Also he wants to get payments under the G.I. Bill of Rights inasmuch as our Army pay will stop. I put my name in as there is nothing binding about it and it may work out. What I hope is that I can use my terminal leave to stay here. I have about three months coming.

My painting is a little better but still comes and goes. I am working now on a portrait of a little French girl. It started well but I am rapidly getting discouraged with it and she is getting quite fed up with posing and wants an end to it. As a result she jumps around a great deal which doesn't make things easier. She's only nine years old and doesn't talk any English so unless her mother is around to keep her quiet, I have my hands full. Today I got rather angry and though she didn't understand my English she grasped my tone and sat as if petrified for 20 minutes. I despise portraiture.

With another painting I had some bad luck of another sort. The first edition didn't go so well and I was working on a new painting of the same thing. It was coming along fine and I hoped to have it done for the show of students' work. Then yesterday, the weather tightened the canvas too much and the under painting began to crack. Today almost the whole canvas is in the same condition. The painting is quite ruined and useless. I don't think I can finish a third painting in time.

I'd like to be there to celebrate your birthday next week. Since that can't be, I hope you'll have a good day and many of them.

Love,

Bob