Dart writes a nice, newsy letter today, telling Dot about his trip into Oakland yesterday. He finally found the place he’s been looking for where he can connect with other railroad fans. He’s hoping he’ll be able to score some photographs of the old local railroads from this part of the country. While in town, he caught the film “Home in Indiana,” which caused a wave of homesickness. He thinks Dot would enjoy it because much of it looks so much like Ohio.
The weather has gotten so cold that he was forced to wear his pea coat on liberty. The summer the boys had been promised has apparently decided to skip right over the Bay Area.
Yesterday was also the second birthday of the Advance Naval Training School at Treasure Island, and the Navy threw a surprise party to celebrate. There was a big show in the auditorium, complete with “a colored-sailor band,” ventriloquist, skaters, singers, dancers, gags, a fine emcee and great eats. I’ll bet the military branches were all looking for any excuse to throw a morale-boosting party during the war years.
Dart tells his best girl how much he misses her letters when he doesn’t hear from her for a few days. “I don’t know how on earth I’ll ever stand it when I get to sea, and can hear from you only at much longer intervals.” He tells her that being away from her somehow brings her closer in his mind; he imagines her beside him so he enjoys things more. He dreams that she is thinking of him at the exact same moment, and feels comforted. (I’d say the odds are good that she is thinking of him, since they both seem to think of the other every minute of the day.) He tells her that knowing she is waiting is the biggest incentive he can have to get this war won ASAP.
He reckons he’ll be going to sea in mid-November. Not knowing whether to look forward to it or not, he decides to look forward and hope for the best. “It’s gotta come sometime. I’ve been a dry land sailor long enough.”
Before closing, he asks Dot if she knows the ship her brother Gordon is on.
Dot has just enough time to dash off a quick note before falling into bed. She never knew what “busy” meant until she started working two jobs. Fourteen hours a day, plus sleep doesn’t give her much time for letter-writing.
She sends Dart her new address at the Miller’s house, as well as some snapshots from Sunapee. “Please don’t hold any of them against me. I was really ‘roughing it,’ and couldn’t be bothered to fix up – even for you. Here you see me as I really am. Just thought I should warn you in time.”
