Well, many days have passed since the last entry on this blog. During this lapsed time 70 years ago, our young lovers were enjoying a long-awaited and much needed vacation together. First, Dart went to Greenwich where he, Dot, El and El’s friend Nancy packed a car and headed for Sunapee, NH for Dart’s introduction to lake living – Chamberlain style. After a week in this idyllic spot, they returned to Greenwich for a brief interlude before Dot joined Dart for his return trip to Cleveland.

The lovebirds’ letters to one another resume in a couple of days, but I thought it would be fun to ponder some of the burning questions that go unanswered in the letters. I can supply the answers to some, but for the others, I’ll need to rely on Dot’s memory as I query her later today.

Let’s begin. Were Eleanor and her friend effective chaperones? Well, I’ve been hearing the answer to that question for most of my life. Let’s just say that El took her responsibility so seriously that Dot and Dart were scarcely able to hold hands. She was so intent on keeping these kids out of trouble, that she nearly squelched all their fun. When Dot spoke with her about perhaps relaxing her grip just a tad, El responded with , “But what would I ever say to Mother and Dad if I failed in my duties?” Consequently, the young couple was never alone for a single moment! The “trauma” of such close monitoring may explain why Mom was always fairly liberal about allowing me private time with my would-be husband when we vacationed with Mom and Dad at Sunapee prior to our marriage. After all, how much trouble can two people get in to while swimming in a frigid lake together or tramping through mosquito-infested woods?

That brings us to the next question: Did Dart actually get in to that lake? When I asked Mom that recently, she recalled that he did put a toe in the water, but he mostly admired the wonders of Sunapee from dry land. Remember, Dart was not, by any stretch, an accomplished swimmer. In his defense, the underwater boulders at the end of our dock have been intimidating the uninitiated for generations. The clarity of the lake and the magnifying effect of the water make them seem much closer to the surface and a bit larger than they actually are. In truth, some of those rocks are the size of a Volkswagen! It took me years of swimming in the lake with Mom at my side before I finally trusted that they were not actually sleeping monsters who would awaken and pull me under. As for the water itself, one can charitably call it “brisk,” even in the heat of high summer. After Labor Day, when the New England autumn nights bring temperatures in the 30s, the lake temperature drops to downright bone-chilling.

Ever Dart’s champion, however, Dot is quick to point out that Dart always loved his time at the lake. Eventually – and by that I mean when he was in his early 70s – Dart learned to swim well enough that he willingly got into the water, sans flotation devices. Just this month, Dot was reminded that he actually came to love swimming at Sunapee. While she was at the cottage, Dot completed her yearly ritual of reading through all the old guest books that have been signed by all who have visited there over the decades. Sometime in the 1990s, Dart wrote that he had finally come to appreciate what Dot had been saying for years about the glory of a pre-breakfast dip in the lake.

Did this hearty group do the hiking El had planned for them? Yes. They drove cross-state to Franconia Notch and did some rigorous walking through the surrounding woods there. They also visited Sunset Hill, just behind the Chamberlain cottage.

Mom told me a funny story yesterday that I don’t recall ever hearing before. On the way back to Greenwich, Dot, Dart and Eleanor stopped at a roadside hotel for the night. The hotel was actually a number of small cabins of either one, or two bedrooms. (Think of that great Hollywood classic “It Happened One Night” with Clark Gable and Collette Colbert) Since the 2-bedroom cabin was far cheaper than two 1-bedroom cabins, our little band of frugal travelers opted for the larger place. Needless to say, the sleeping arrangements were strictly on the up and up! Before leaving in the morning, the group took photos of their overnight accommodations – with one minor deception. Dot and El posed in front of the 2-bedroom cabin and Dart stood in front of a smaller single-room version. He was sure his parents would blow a stack if they thought he had stayed with the girls. How silly this seems. I mean, they all stayed under one roof while at the family cottage, but sharing a “hotel” room would have been scandalous!

My last Sunapee-related question is whether or not they were able to make contact with Hal Martin and collect on the wiener roast bet. Sadly, the Martin family had closed up their summer place by Labor Day, so the Navy buddies were unable to meet up. That eventually happened a few years later.

The remaining questions I have of this time period are: Did Dart finally meet the Pecsok family during his brief stay in Greenwich? While in Cleveland, did the two attend a high school football game? Did they go to a concert? Did Dot meet more of Dart’s hometown friends? Most importantly, were Dart and his parents able to convince Dot that the third floor of their apartment could truly be converted to a cozy newlywed nest?

I’m spending part of this weekend with Mom and will ask her to delve into her memory to see how many of these questions she can answer. In fairness, she often reminds me that 70 years is a very long time and that much has happened in her life since then. Still, I’m always gratified by how much she actually can recall from those long ago days.