It seems to me that it is Christmas already! I have just received a bundle of letters from you! All I need now, is a fat guy wearing red, and life will be complete! I remember you telling me you were not a fan of Christmas, but I think any festival that encourages harmony, must not be all bad! So, unbrick your chimney and I'll see if I can get Kriss Kringle to visit you this year! I will read your letters over and over again, and I guess when I have read them for the tenth time I will wish I had waited before I sent this letter. I want you to know that I am safe and missing you, like our Major always misses buying a drink, and that's every fucking time we are in the camp bar! As the winter is setting in, all the activity has slowed down, so we are in camp a lot more these days. it is difficult to keep the guys occupied, they can only clean their kit so many times! Because they're all hyped up they get to brawling, then I have to fill up the paperwork, in triplicate, to put them in front of the Major. he gives them a lecture, same lecture no matter what the offence, and sends them to work in the cookhouse. As if that is going to improve the crap we eat!

I think of you all the time, when your letter said that you were surprised at how much I seem to know you, let me tell you, it sure surprises me too! There are times when I have these conversations with you in my head, and I could swear I have known you all my life, and maybe, many lifetimes before. You'll be happy to know that it is not all fun, talking to you in my head, we have had some mighty bust-ups! but I always try to be fair, and let you apologize first! Seriously, my life has changed so much because of you, these days, the service is not the main thing in my life, you are. Sometimes I worry that we will both be different when I get home and things won't be the same between us, but then I get a letter, or two, from you and I know you feel the same about me. Ruby, you don't just fill my head, my heart is full of you too. I have designed this little house, in my head, where we will sit and read together, and listen to music. I have allowed an hour a day for these activities, and I sure have plans for the other twenty three! I can't go into detail as my mail is censored, and the kid who does it is of a Christian family, and a nervous disposition!

One of these days, I'll go out and chop us down a Christmas tree and we'll decorate it together, while we drink wine, then I'll put your presents underneath it, and if there is any room left you can put one under for me. Well, I guess I'd better go, I'm guard duty commander tonight. Ruby, I love you and I miss you. Buck