Dart had a windfall today – more letters that he wasn’t expecting. For Dot’s information, his address is now through the Fleet Post Office in New York, instead of San Francisco.

They just spent a couple of nights in another famous Navy city for another fabulous opportunity at liberty. He cannot mention the name of the city just now, but that will come later.

Instead, he’ll focus on answering the two letters he got from Dot today – the ones she wrote on July 18 and 23. “I hope you don’t believe what you said about my ‘good, steady disposition’. If it’s good, it’s surely not steady. Most likely, tho’ it’s steady but not good.

At this moment, it’s hot and rough around him. The ship “lifts, and drops, and flutters like an old maid dressing for company.” He feels quite green.  Now, back to Dot’s letter.

He most certainly has told his parents about the pending engagement. The day after he wrote the all-important letter to Dot asking if they could announce their engagement, he wrote to let his parents know. They are awaiting word that Dart has heard from Dot’s folks so that they can write a letter to the Chamberlains to welcome them to the family.

Dart seemed proud to include a quote from his father’s letter regarding the upcoming engagement. “We are proud beyond words, son, that you are going to have such a very fine girl as Dot as your wife, and that her parents seem to approve of you as a son-in-law. Now if we could be reasonably sure that you two nice people were going to be able to start off your life together with a minimum of financial worries and problems, we would ask for nothing more.”

Now Dart only wishes they could convince his parents to travel to Connecticut for the engagement party. In truth, I think their financial staits will prevent them from making the trip.

He admits that he may have the same response to every picture she sends him, but it’s because every picture captures a different mood or expression. And each one reminds him of a special moment he has spent with her.

There’s more talk about the timing of his leave, his plans for his liberties, etc. But there’s no news there. Everything at this stage is just conjecture because the Navy, if it has any firm plans, is not disclosing what they are.

He was the only man on special duty yesterday who could not take cover during the rainstorms because his phone cord wasn’t long enough. As a consequence, he has picked up a nasty cold and a bad sunburn.

Dot also got some unexpected letters today, from a sailor that she and Dart both know. “Perhaps you know him better than I, but time will remedy that.” The letters make her feel guilty for not writing in such a long time. It just felt foolish to mail his letters to the west coast Fleet Post Office, just to have them be rerouted back to the east coast. Her lack of letters does not reflect a lack of thought!

Her big news is that the Chamberlains got a phone call from Gordon tonight from Seattle! He’ll be home in 16 days for 16 days. Everyone’s disappointed he won’t get a longer leave, but they’ll take what they can get. Dot hopes the Navy will see fit to give Dart his leave on August 27 so he’ll have a chance to meet Gordon. “As it is, I don’t know how I can stand waiting for you that long! I’m dying to see you and say all the things I’ve kept cooped inside me for so long.

Simply reading the paragraph about the ring gives her goose bumps. She wears a size 7 and her only advice is to keep the ring simple, just like the girl who will wear it.

She’s living out of the house this week, babysitting for a 12-year old gorl and her 2-year old brother. She plans to accept no sitting jobs next week so that she’ll be sure to be home if Dart happens to call her.

No letters until August 5, when we’ll hear from Dart again.