Let’s take a look back to this week in January, 1944.
Dart has just begun his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Center outside of Chicago. Because of the problem with a cyst on his tailbone, he has been assigned to light duty. Today, however, he spends most of his time in sickbay – once for a shot, once for a vaccination, and once to have his dressing changed. But the highlight of his day was getting three letters from Dot. He seems relieved to have heard from her, and he’s read all the letters several times. It’s almost as though he wasn’t sure her devoted correspondence would continue once he’d left Cleveland to fight a war.
The following day he reports that “light-duty” has so far translated into late night and early morning guard shifts and some painting. He thanks her for the birthday gift, but doesn’t mention what it was. Curiously, he asks the question, “Isn’t it an awful feeling to be in love?” He goes on to say that one in love generally goes around with a feeling of euphoria and optimism, until suddenly, there’s a whisper of doubt, disbelief that it’s really true. That makes the whole world look cold and gray, until in a snap, the doubt is gone and bliss returns. I find this a rather strange little discourse, especially when he doesn’t elaborate much. What I do find fun, though, is that these young people met scarcely three months ago, had a total of three dates, and have built the rest of their relationship on letters, yet they already admit to being in love. Yes, this letter-writing thing is a formula that seemed to work for them, much to my delight.
Dot asked him to tell her about his “shaky leg syndrome” that he’d referred to a an earlier letter. He explains that the only time it happens is at morning and evening mail call when all he can think of is getting a letter from her!
He’s hoping that when she’s in Cleveland the next time, hopefully when he gets his boot camp leave, maybe she could have dinner with his parents. He’d like that very much. Little does he know that he will soon be going into the hospital for seven and a half long months!
Dot writes a very brief note because it is exam week at Andrews School and she must continue her studying. Besides, she fears any letter she wrote would be just more “pretty talk.” She writes “It’s all I can do to wait for the time when I can know you better, but until then, I think we’d better cut down on the mush.”