December 21, 1943--a letter written by my mother in Florida to her mother-in-law

The following letter was written by my mother to her mother-in-law back  home in Staunton after she had arrived at Fort Blanding to visit her husband.

Dec. 21st, 1943

1:30 P.M.

Dear Mom & all--

I arrived in Jacksonville Sat. afternoon at 4 P.M. Gus didn't get in until nine o'clock so I sat in the station and waited for him. He is fine but a lot thinner than I expected him to be. It was his clothes that made him look big in his pictures. They are a lot too big for him.

We got here in Camp about two Sunday afternoon. After I unpacked we went down to the lake and took some pictures. We got back and had our supper about 8 P.M. He had to leave about 10:15 to get back to his hut. Last night he came over about 7 P.M. He was to have waited on tables but he paid another kid to do it for him. He didn't eat supper so we went to the service club and ate. Tonight he has class so I guess it will be 9 o'clock or later before he gets here.

I still don't know where I'm going to stay after I leave here tomorrow. It is very nice here at the guest house. I wish I could stay but that is out. Gus is trying to talk me into staying over New Year's but I hate to take a chance on losing my job. But if he still wants me to I guess I will if I can find a place to stay. He's afraid he will not get his furlough or he wouldn't mind so much if I left after Xmas.

Gus has never gotten my Xmas package. Maybe it was in that train wreck. He got yours.

How did you get along with Skipper? Did he want to follow me?

I just came as far as Tenn. by bus. I came the rest of the way by train. I'll tell you all about it when I get home.

Take care of yourself and I hope you all have a nice Xmas. Thanks again for the Xmas presents as they were grand. This letter is from Gus too in case he doesn't get a chance to write. He said to tell you all hello & to write. He got Mamie's letter yesterday & one from Louie. Also about six Xmas cards & the paper. I sure hope he gets my Xmas box before Xmas.

Write when you can.

Love,
Dora & Gus

These pictures were taken of Mom and Dad during Mom's visit with Dad in Florida.

Mom asks about Skipper, their beloved rat terrier. Heard so many stories about him growing up, including that while Dad was away during the war Skipper would walk across town from my mother's mother's home on Hibbard to Dad's parents' home looking for Dad. He would walk into the house, wander through the house looking for Dad, they'd give him a treat, and he would go back home.

Mamie, whose letter Dad had just received, is his sister and oldest sibling. She, like his oldest brother, never married and the two of them ended up living together in the family home all their lives. I don't have any idea who "Louie" is. As far as I know, it isn't a family member.

As I looked at the envelope this letter came in I had to smile. Mom had put down the wrong house number, 623 North Laurel Street instead of 621 North Laurel Street, and yet there are no marks on the envelope indicating there was any problem delivering the letter. I don't even think that there is a house numbered 623 on North Laurel.