Mother Ferry's Letter from 1941

Mother Ferry sent this letter to Mary Alice and Frank on December 13, 1941, during WWII, just six days after the Pearl Harbor attack. She mentions Ann (4 yrs old) several times and that Bill was stationed near Fort Ord, which is now Cal State Monterey Bay CSUMB.

Photo of Mother Ferry dated 1945.

Here is a typed version of her letter:

Glendale, Cal

Dec 13, 1941

Dear Mary Alice Frank,
Just a line to say it is Saturday already and I haven't written to let you know about us, we are all fine. Ann has been very good and seems to be enjoying herself. I took Ann, Peter, Tom and Pat to town today and they had a great time when Ann got up to Santa she told him she didn't know what she wanted she said I will have to look around and see. Bill phoned Tuesday to say he had been moved ten miles from Fort Ord and expected to be moved again but didn't know where.
How did Vince make out?
The war has surely taken the Christmas spirit away, but I guess we have to go right on, there aren't so many people shopping as one would think.
We had a blackout on Tuesday it was awful, but I am better prepared for the next one as I bought some black lining. You would laugh to hear Ann talking about the black out. Everyone here went to bed and I had a candle to see by as I wanted to read the war news. I still write to Bill at Fort Ord 7th Division Headquarters Ordance Section, so if you write I guess he would be glad to hear. I sent him three pound of candy and a carton of cigarettes. I forgot to tell you when I was up Catherine Gridley died was operated on for a tumor.
Well I will close and be sure and write as we feel kind of lonely.

Love, Mother