Dart confesses to feeling some chagrin over the six unanswered letters he has from Dot. He just hasn’t felt much like writing lately, nor has he had a lot of time.

He says he tried to tell her about the orchestra concert last night, but he was riding on a train that was “as jumpy as a nervous jackrabbit with a burr in its fur.”

Then he goes on to describe his evening in San Francisco in almost exactly the same words he’d used in his previous letter -right down the the fried egg sandwiches and Pepsi-Colas.

He’s hoping to go into Stockton tomorrow night with Lefty and Switzer – perhaps even spend the night if they can find cheap rooms. Shoemaker is becoming more and more a place they want to be away from.

Confirming that he did, indeed, notice the fabulous moon a few nights ago, he assures Dot that someday they’ll be able to share every full moon together.

As he continues the conversation about whether or not both of them are slow workers, he assures her that she worked pretty fast on him. “Better not work on anyone else that fast, or I’ll be one lonely and disappointed sailor.”

He cautions her not to throw away her musical instruments. He says that even if she’s as bad as she claims to be, which he doubts, they can always use the spare parts on his model railroad! Amazing how his mind is never far “off that track.”

Last night he bummed a ride in a car to Oakland. It was the first time he’d crossed the Bay Bridge on the upper level. “Really a new and thrilling sight. Much more beautiful from topside where all the pretty parts of the bridge can be seen.” That reminds me of a part of Dad’s character that I always admired; he was a great appreciator. From natural beauty to the majesty of fine engineering, from the feel of a satin-smooth wooden surface, to the aroma of foods – Dad was always taking note of his surroundings and finding a myriad of things to enjoy about them.

He thanks her for that swell sketch of the fireplace she included in a recent letter. He thinks it’s a fine addition to their house notes.

After signing off he adds a P. S. that he’s “two years old in the Navy today.” That means he signed up one year after Pearl Harbor and one month before his 19th birthday.

The letter Dot received today was dated December 4th. She seemed to recall that something very special occurred on that date, so she pulled out his letter from December 4, 1943 and found the proof. Near the bottom of page three were the words that thrilled her then, and always will. It was the first time he’d written “I love you Dot.”

“I prayed so hard the day I got that letter that things would always be ‘that way’ between us. God must have thought it a good plan, too, cuz’ He seems to be doing all He can to make things as perfect as they can be between us.”

She’s happy he’s a “white collar” office boy now – so much nicer than digging ditches.

El and Don returned to Greenwich today. Don looks very good, El has a big red nose “like she’s had one too many,” but they both seem very happy. Dot’s nose looks quite similar to her sister’s due to that nasty cold.