Dear Evelyn,<br/><br/>I am exhausted. We shuffled off the train at 2:30 this morning and here it is ten to midnight and this is the first time I've had the chance to breathe but I wanted to make sure and write you a letter.<em>I stopped writing as I realized I'd thought to write Evelyn before my own family</em>I am homesick already. It started when we got off the train and I saw a willow tree - it reminded me of the one by Spring Lake where we used to ice skate. Remember? I do wish I was home but at the same time I feel like I am on a great adventure and I am happy and excited to be doing something so important with my life.<br/><br/>As soon as we got off the train we were yelled at continuously, by noon I'd completely given up on doing anything write. We stood in a long line and got measured for uniforms. As soon as we changed into them the first thing we did was mail home all of our civilian clothes! They told us if they didn:t issue it to us, we didn't need it and believe you me, they gave us everything. They handed us each a duffel bag and started filling it. It was like Christmas at McGinty's store. All the clothes were crisp and new and they smelled so clean! They gave us shoes we were to wear for duty, for running and I even got a brand new pair of dress shoes. It actually dawned on me, I think these are the first new clothes I've ever been given in my life. They've all been hand me downs from Mark and Tom.<br/><br/>They showed us to our barracks and we barely had time to put our bags down before we were ordered to put on our PT gear that's physical training and they marched us around for what seemed like miles.  The food here is great. We had fried chicken and potatoes...even had ice cream - never had ice cream with supper before. It was odd. As soon as we got back they showed us how to pack everything away. Everything has a certain place and must be folded a certain way in a certain order and a certain umpteen different things. I've been working on my area since supper.<br/><br/>I need to get to bed. Take care of yourself and I know I've no right to ask, but would you look in on Mother every now and again. She worries so and I think some female company would do her good.<br/><br/>Yours,<br/><em>Jack</em>