Wartime Love Letters

Ella Mae (June 12 - 16, 1944)

83 Merchant St.                                                                                                                                                              June 12, 1944

Dearest Johnny

I can't understand why you aren't getting my letters. I've written everyday or rather every night but last Monday nite. I had to work overtime Monday and was too tired to write after working 12 hours. But I wrote you twice Tuesday. May be your mail has caught up now. I know I was glad to get your letter to-day as I didn't get any mail Friday or Saturday.

I'm glad you liked those pictures of Johhny. I thought they were cute. I'll send you some prints of the film we took when you were home. I'm sorry but I haven't had them printed yet. I don't get down when Mrs. Stone is open so I'm going to send Johnny down with them. I have used the other film too.

I'm sitting on the porch writing this. Bill Etu just went by and of course he had to stop with one of his remarks. Said he never saw two women as deserted as Mrs. McGee and I and said he wished he were a little younger. He always has something to say doesn't he?

So you may possibly get 10 or 15 days leave. That really is something to look forward too. I won't plan too much on it tho because if You don't get it, it would be too much of a disappointment. But I can dream can't I? Even to have you home for a week end will be wonderful. Don't worry about the money end. I have nearly $45 and a nice pay coming Friday. About $30 or $31. They say we'll get our raise before long and our back pay and I'll have nearly $45 coming. That won't be hard to take either as it will be just like finding it. My rent, lights and all my other expenses are just about even. I still have to pay Ed Boucher when I get the time to go over there.

Johnny just came back from playing with Skipper. He said to tell you that he had your picture on his desk all day to-day. I'm going to send you his arith. test paper. I hope you're as proud of it as I am. I am pretty sure he's going to pass. I have him one of the pictures you sent and he carries it in his pocket all the time. It's getting pretty dog eared now too. He is getting along well and has been eating pretty good now. I only hope it lasts as it worries me when he doesn't eat. To-nite he cleaned his plate and I didn't have to keep after him either. Your mother is making him a ball like she used to have in Sweden and it bounces swell. She put a cork inside and wound it with thread and then sews the out side. You know you can't buy a rubber ball.

I'm glad you liked those picture of Johnny I didn't have mine taken as they're never good any way. I was so glad you sent me the large pictures of your self. I like having your face around. Does that seem odd. I guess I'll never get over loving you and I can't say I want to either you are pretty precious to me so please darling take care of your self.

We all got our pillow covers. Your mother liked hers and my mother said that you were the only one of the boys who thought to send her one. I have mine upstairs and I read it over every night before I sleep. Then you don't seem so far away. Thats the time I miss you most. There haven't been too many nights in the last nine years that we haven't turned in at the same time. I guess you don't realize how grand your life is until something happens to up set it. I've been trying to go to bed early but I just can't seem to get to sleep early. Too much of a habit of going to bed at mid-night. I went to Bingo Wed. nite but no luck.

I was glad to hear that you and Ray aren't too far apart. At least there is some one from home near you and that's some comfort. I just sorry that you weren't assigned to-gether. But I'm so very glad you have to come to Boston. That's so much near home than California. I'm going to hope so hard that you do get a 10 to 15 days leave. To have you home for that long before you ship out would be just wonderful. If you have 15 days I'll even let you house clean for me. You must be pretty expert with a broom and mop by now as you weren't too bad before. The house has just about kept itself since you went back. There doesn't seem to be much oint in working all the time when I'm home. I don't think I was made to be a career woman. I'm not complaining either as I really like my job.