Dot apologizes for missing a day of letter-writing. She explains that the electricity was off for a couple of days and we know how she feels about writing by candlelight! She points out that there are so few men left that it’s taking longer than usual to get the electrical lines up and operational. I guess that’s a significant downside to a) sending so many men overseas to fight and b) preventing women from entering male-dominated careers.

She tells Dart that the letter she got from him today made her homesick for Ohio. She could practically smell the picnic foods he described and see the familiar Ohio scenes in her mind. “I’ll admit New England is a beautiful spot in autumn, but I think the people here lack the genuine hospitality needed to make one thoroughly appreciate the scenery.” I do believe my mother always had more of a Midwest temperament than that of an East Coast gal. As a new bride and young mother living in Ohio I know she missed her family so far away, but I think she always felt right at home in Ohio.

She wishes Dart a speedy recovery from his cold. Her sister-in-law, Betty B. and El both have colds because Greenwich is having the kind of weather “that makes them easy to catch and hard to lose.”