At first blush, this seems like a simple, chatty letter. If you read between the lines, however, I think you’ll find much deeper meaning.
Dart opens with a comment that having a brother in the Navy, Dot must be accustomed by now to the Navy mail service. Perhaps she has gone weeks in the past without hearing from Gordon. He suggests that things might be that way for him shortly. He talks about his “work beginning to pile up,” making it necessary to cut way back on his correspondence. Could that be his way of getting past the censors his hint that he has seen, or is about to see some real sea battles?
“If the time ever comes when you must go for several weeks without a word from me, please keep writing. Remember all the letters you’ve had from me in the past. Remember our visits to each others homes; our dates; the little things we like to remember. Remember our plans and hopes for the future, and when you write, if it’s at all possible, enclose a picture or two. A snapshot once in a while does worlds of good.” I believe this is his effort to nullify the notion of “out of sight, out of mind.” He doesn’t want her to either mistake his silence for a loss of interest in her, nor for her to forget what they mean to each other. I think the “Dear John” letters that so many on his ship have received might haunt him a bit. We’ll see more evidence of this fear when we learn shortly of things he’s written to his parents.
He refers to some of her letters he received while on the Admiral Coontz – now already a month old. He says he’s heard the song she mentioned, “You Always Hurt the One You Love” several times on the ship. He hopes that’s not true, and he believes they’ve never even had a quarrel. “That’s nice. I hope we keep it that way. (But if you don’t stop making political cracks, we’re going to have mild altercations.) Your letters aren’t censored, so you can say anything in the way of politics that you please. I don’t think Mr. Roosevelt will eat your head off for saying things about him.”
Referring to the note from Bob (Dot’s boss) that was enclosed with one of her recent letters, Dart sends his greetings. He’s confused about one thing, though; Bob refers to Dot as Dart’s “best girl,” but Dart insists she’s his only girl. He also said Bob reports that Dot will soon be a “perfect 12.” Dart thinks that might be a little small. He also tells her to remind him to tell her the story of another “perfect 12” he knew once. She did him wrong, and he’s not too impressed by her these days. He can tell that Bob is crazy about Dot, but Dart wants to remind her that there’s a sailor from this war who likes her a lot, too. In fact, one might say he even loves her.
Responding to her request that he someday tell her everything he and his buddies talked about on the long ocean voyage, he says that before he can tell her what half of the conversation was about, the big fireplace and all of their plans will have to have become reality. Then, he hopes there’ll be no need to tell her. The other half of the time, they talked about food and machinery.
He closes with “Good night, my darling. I love you with all my heart. Don’t ever think any differently.” That sounds like one last effort to drive home the message that his feelings for her are constant, and he hopes she feels the same about him.
We don’t hear from Dart again until February 14, but it’s an incredibly powerful letter. Don’t miss it. Meanwhile, Dot writes again on February 12. See you back here then.
