Wartime Love Letters

Ella Mae (May 1 - 4, 1944)

83 Merchant St                                                                                                                                                        Edmond Forest, NY                                                                                                                                                               May 1, 1944

Dearest Johnny

Well darling to-day is the first of May. Can you guess what I've been doing to-nite. It's the same thing I've been doing for the last few years on May 1st. Making May Baskets of course. I started them early but of course I didn't get them finished and I had to finish them after work to-night. They're all hung now and Johnny is getting ready for bed. My fire was getting low so I have to build it up before I go to bed - I'm listen in to the Lux Theater. Its pretty good too.

Your mother has been cleaning up the yard all evening. She cleaned the rock garden too. She's going to put all new plants in this year she told me. Dad has been taking off the storm windows and he's been having quite the time getting them in the frame as the big ones are the downstairs ones.

To-day was a really beautiful day. The sun shone all day for a change. It was terribly hot in the mill. I'm wondering what it will be like during July and August. I see from your letter that you had a little stenciling to do too. I really like to stencil especially those miscellaneous orders. It takes a little thought to keep them straight but it's more interesting. I've been head stenciling on the line for over a week. He put me on and told me to take the lead stencils after one of the girls got an order all mixed up. I haven't made any mistakes yet but I'm being awfully careful just the same.

I just can't wait to hear what work you drew for your service week. I hope its something you like and have you heard as yet what you may do after you're finished there. I just can't wait to know what you will do now. I hope you won't be sent too far away. I told your mother that you were mailing me some pictures of your company. Just before I came home she asked me if I cared if she opened them. I told her of course not. I know she can't wait to see how you look in your uniform. And neither can I. I'm awfully glad you passed that abandon ship test. How are Ray and Basil taking it. O.K. I hope. Fran told Sue that Basil may get a crack at Radio.

Your Dad and I have nearly licked that ash pile. This is clean up week so I put quite a lot out to-night and I think I can get it all out before you get home. I have a lot to do before you come home but I don't seem to accomplish much in the evening.

I just stopped writing for a few minutes to clean Johnny's ears. Boy I don't know how he gets so darned dirty. He's been helping your mother all evening. He's been a pretty good boy since he talked to you on the telephone. It did him a lot of good. I can't wait to see his face when you come home. And you know if you felt swell after talking to us you can imagine how grand it made us feel. Johnny wanted us to call you up the next night. I guess he thinks its just like calling his Aunt Sue. But darling if you call again you'd better reverse the charges. I'll pay them when your mothers gets the bill. So any time you feel like calling around seven. I'm usually there in the evening until around 7:30. We have supper there most every night. Why don't you call us if you know definitely when you'll get home. I know I'll be in a dither all day Thursday. That's one day that will seem about a year long.

Barbara has quite a cold and Peg had Dr. Elliot for her to-day. He says she has bronchitis but she'll be O.K. in a few days. Nothing to worry about. Johnny hung his May Baskets and then helped Bobby hand his. They had a lot of fun.

Well my darling are you just as anxious to get home as we are to have you home? Now that the time is getting nearer for your leave Johnny and I getting pretty anxious. I love you darling so don't find yourself another sweetheart please. You know you're pretty important to me. So take good care of yourself.