In an attempt to make up for another streak of letterless days, Dot is planning to send this one airmail. She also asks Dart if he ever received the one she sent two weeks ago, which Mr. Miller mailed from NYC. The lag between letters is frustrating to me because the two correspondents have to wait so long to catch up on each other’s queries and comments.
Dot reports that the family gave Gordon’s wife, Betty a birthday party. The real celebration came in the form of two letters from her husband. He had also previously sent her $50 to buy a new winter coat. Compared to other prices Dot’s mentioned in her letters, $50 seems like a lot for a coat in 1944.
Toni Gale was a guest at the party – the only child there. Dot also included a snapshot of Gale, taken during the summer. Something tells me the picture made a bigger impression on doting Aunt Dot than it will on Dart. If you’re interested, the photo is attached.
She tells Dart that he’s keeping her up nights in eager anticipation that she might be able to see him again after he graduates. She hopes he can get a plane so he’ll have almost a week at home. Now, she says, all that’s left is for her to get to Ohio at the same time.
Eleanor received a telegram from Don last night to say he’d be coming to Greenwich on Saturday for 12 to 18 hours. I don’t recall hearing that he finally got his orders, but apparently he did. Dot says her sister is the world’s second happiest girl now that Don is coming for a visit.
Dot and a friend are going into New York City next week for dinner and a show. They had a bet that Dot won, although she can’t tell Dart what she bet until she sees him next. Hmm… I sure hope that little tidbit gets reported in a letter somewhere.
Eschewing Dart’s moderate manner of avoiding political discussions, Dot goes on a mini-rant about having to listen to the phoney, lying President Roosevelt on the radio tonight. She dreads thinking he might be re-elected. She wonders why Dart won’t say who he’s for, but imagines he’s ashamed of his choice. She’s really put her foot in her mouth (or maybe just her pen) with her disparaging comments about the president. Can’t wait to see if Dart’s gloves come off after he reads her little diatribe. Just a quick note about that. I recently spoke to Mom about the PBS documentary on the Roosevelts and asked her what exactly she and her father had against FDR. She really couldn’t recall, except her father was vehement and she respected her father. With seven decades of hindsight, she agrees that Franklin Roosevelt accomplished some pretty impressive feats during his lengthy tenure.
