Well, just when I thought the one letter from Michel Lefebvre in France was a one-off, I found two more, one of them is here. The postmark on the envelope indicates it was sent from Bourges in Cher, France on 14 March 1951. Two 15 franc stamps are on the front.
Here’s a transcription of the letter, to the best of my abilities. Spelling and grammar errors left as they were written.
Dear Clarice,
I remark since your last letter there are many things changed while your patient Jud Westover is died and you have a new job.
Between this time, I leaved Percy Hospital near Paris where I have spent four months, for the Military Hospital of Bourges in the department (district) of Cher. I am separated of Paris from two hundred kilometers but chiefly I had rather to rest in a special house or at home and I might be glad. It’s raining since a week that I am arrived and after the people say: the weather will not change afore one or two months.
My illness is not worse, I am spending all day long between rests of two or three hours and small activities such as reading, walking limited by walls of the hospital, inside games and hobneys [?]. I have not any treatment, I like very well this and I feel better. I do not know how many long I am about to stay here but I wait principally on my boxes a departure in a time so that [this?] possible.
I went in Borgest next Sunday, it is an old town with irregular paving stone streets, the cathedral dating in the Middle Age is in good state what is astonishing with the two international conflicts, you might see it from the card that I like is in the letter. Borges has a great historic past, it was a royal town with Louis XI’s [crowd?] and Jacques Coeur the famous treasurer. In spite of this there are more squares and gardens what turn over the aspect of the town.
I hope that your job is liked by you and I wait the pleasure to read you.
Your Sincerely,
Michel
Michel did enclose a postcard of the cathedral which was kept with the letter. Apparently Clarice told him about Judd Westover, who I believe she cared for after high school and before her career as a nurse. I remember going through a box of photos with her once and she pointed out the Westovers, and I *think* that photo exists in the collection on my hard drive somewhere. If I find it, I’ll put together a post and update this post as well.
UPDATE: Information/photos found, and that post will be coming shortly, here – https://www.sheetar.com/2024/02/19/the-westovers/