Dart’s letter today is a serious look at a problem faced by this young couple, as well as an examination of several possible solutions. He lays it all out quite logically and asks Dot for her considered input. The problem, as he sees it, is the difficulty of following his earlier hopes and dreams of finishing college before he takes a wife. This falls under the category of the best-laid plans falling apart when reality and emotions are factored in.

His first concern is  how Dot feels about getting a college education. Does she desire a degree, or would she be satisfied with two years? Second, if they would marry while he is still in school, how does she feel about working to support them (along with the money they’ll receive from the GI Bill)?

He proposes that if Dot is willing to leave school after two years, they might get married in June 1947. By then, Dart will have about a year left, depending on whether he goes to school during the summers, how many of his Case credits will transfer, and if he works part time and takes classes part time.

There are risks to his proposal, including asking Dot to be the bread-winner, which goes against Dart’s traditional values. It could also leave them with a financial burden, especially if he’s unable to find a job after graduating. He also fears that one or both sets of their parents may disapprove of this new plan.

However, he sees psychological risks if they put off starting their lives together too far into the future. He knows that the most important thing for both of them is being together as husband and wife.

“When we announced our engagement we announced to the world that we love each other and that we intend to get married. In getting married, we expect to share each other’s lives in all respects. We must give and take, each in equal amounts. That giving and taking, that sharing of lives, doesn’t, no can’t, begin the moment we’re married. It must begin with our plans to get married and what we expect afterward. Now, then, is the time when our responsibilities to each other begin. ”

He asks Dot to, essentially “write a theme on the topic” and tell him her honest thoughts. She may even like to discuss this with his parents and with hers. “I’ll answer no more of your letter tonight, Darling. I love you for what you are, for what you’ve been to me, and for what the future holds for us.”

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Dot sets out to answer four of Dart’s letters, but doesn’t quite make it. She frets that if his ship leaves port on January 7th, he may not get any letters from her for a long time. She hates the thought of him leaving the States, even though she cant’s see him when he’s in Charleston. Somehow, he’ll feel more absent from her life when he’s at sea, and she’ll feel even lonelier than usual.

She fantasizes about him being out of the Navy and home by her spring break in March. More realistically, she begins to dream that maybe he’ll be home for good by Easter on April 21st. How she’d love to attend church with him that day, looking spiffy in his new civilian clothes.

She’s glad that he wrote about wanting to go to church with her someday. She thinks happy married couples are even happier if they attend church together. She told him about a pamphlet that someone on the train gave her to read entitled “Is God Out of Date?” The gist of the pamphlet is that one can’t call himself a Christian just by calling himself one and going to church, but if one lives a good, honest life and doesn’t go to church,  he may indeed be a Christian. Dot thinks living a good life and going to church is the preferred arrangement.

She likes the way he has begun and ended a couple of letters recently. One began with “My Darling Future Family,” which felt so intimate and cozy to her. She also liked the ending of “Your fiance who wants very much to be your husband soon.” That sentiment reflects her feelings exactly.

In other news, she’s happy there are some nice officers on the Craig. She asks that he never mention to his folks the fact that Dot has hitchhiked into Cleveland a few times. She appreciates that he didn’t go to the party in Charleston that those two girls invited him to, although she trusts him completely and would never want him to deprive himself of fun simply for her sake. “Just let your conscience be your guide.”

Two weeks ago tonight, her face ached from smiling so much, but now she feels nothing. Her body seems lifeless when he’s gone. “I love you and miss you, my Darling, more than I can ever say. We have so many things to do together, we’ll have to get married soon and work mighty fast to get them all done.”