It's almost over for the slim, pretty woman whose quiet manner doesn't hide the excitement in her eyes.

Six years and five months of first not knowing and then accepting and waiting are coming to a close for Mrs. Louis F. Makowski of Midland.

She was notified Thursday that POW Lt. Col. Makowski is among those to be released today.

TALKING EASILY and openly about her husband's capture in North Vietnam in 1966 and its effect on her and her family, Mrs. Makowski radiated joy and optimism even when reports indicated­ POW releases would be delayed.

"Oh yes," she said softly, "I had some apprehension. I think that is only natural."

But then came Thursday and the long awaited call.

Plans for the homecoming of a father and a husband were made long before then, however.

"We've been ready since the cease fire was announced in January," Mrs. Makowski smiled. "All the kids have their plans.

"RHODA KNOWS just exactly what she is going to wear for the first time he sees her. "

Rhoda, 7, the youngest child of the couple wasn't even walking when her father left. She is now in the second grade at St. Ann's Catholic School.

"Matt has plans to go fishing and hunting, and to football games," Mrs. Makowski continued. He has missed doing the things with a father like the other boys do. "

MATTHEW, 13, last heard his father's voice the day before he entered the first grade.

Cheryl, 16, a junior in high school, is keeping most of her plans to herself. Cheryl has passed out POW bracelets bearing her father's name to friends. All members of the family are wearing Makowski's POW bracelet, also.

When Lt. Col. Makowski, a navigator, was shot down over North Vietnam the Air Force reported him "missing in action" but USAF personnel reassured his wife that "he had a good 'chute. "

Makowski's pilot was rescued.

"THOSE YEARS he was MIA were the hardest," Mrs. Makowski recalled. "It's just that you didn't know anything one way or the other."

Letters from Makowski began coming in 1970 after public opinion was aroused by the flights and letter writing campaigns of H. Ross Perot of Dallas were publicized Mrs. Makowski reports.

Letters from her husband were mostly about her and the kids she reports. "And he might ask for some coffee or peanut butter," she said.

In his last letter to the family he told his children to "have patience with me. There are many things I will have to adjust to now."

"Once (after receiving pictures) Lou wrote back worrying about Rhoda's teeth," Mrs. Makowski said. "Can you imagine a man in a prison camp worrying about his daughter's teeth?"

MAKOWSKI'S MAIN topic of conversation was his family though according to two POW's who called the Makowski family shortly after their release earlier this year.

Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Shumaker and Lt. Col. John H. Dunn of the U.S. Marines were both in prison with Makowski- one of them his cellmate for three years. "They told me he was in good spirits and health," Mrs. Makowski said. "And they called me 'Kay' as if they'd known me forever. I guess men in prison camps learn about each other lives in detail."

The USAF personnel at Webb Air Force Base have maintained regular contact with the Makowski family ...making sure every one was ok and that we didn't need anything." Mrs. Makowski said.

"AND THEY called to tell me he wasn't on the list before," she said. "I told the sergeant 'you don't know what you're doing to me,' and he said 'Kay, I feel as bad as you do about it'."

The good news that came via telephone last week hasn't stopped her nerves from jangling with the bell when it rings now, however. The next call may be from her husband.

Asked about her attitude on war protests of past years Mrs. Makowski answered quietly. I didn't appreciate them but that was their right. That's why my husband was over there.

"I CAN SEE how a person who did not believe in the war would feel resentment," she said. "But I'm sure Lou feels like he did the right thing."

The family has not received hate mail or adverse phone calls Mrs. Makowski reports. ''We have mostly learned about all the wonderful people in the world."

Persons wearing Lou Makowski's POW bracelet from California to New Jersey have written letters. made encouraging telephone calls and even sent Christmas packages to the Makowski family.

"I've answered hundreds of letters," Mrs. Makowski said. 'I wrote 24 last Sunday and had eight more to answer by Tuesday. " SHE IS WAITING until her husband's return to decide about fanfare" for him. He likes people," she said. and he'll probably love it.' Medical examinations and debriefing will probably come first. however. according to Mrs. Makowski.

The shock and fear Mrs. Makowski felt when she learned he was shot down is gone- hopefully she'll never feel anything like it again.

Now she and the children look only toward the signals for them to pack and leave-``It will be fast," she said laughing when asked how long she'd thought it take for them to be ready.