Dart answers one of Dot’s long  letters with a long one of his own. He talks about the packages he received from all of his aunts in Cleveland – sweets and treats, and large, brown, furry slippers.

He had a big day at the hospital. First, he practiced going up and down stairs. That painful and awkward exercise was necessitated by the butchering of certain muscles during his surgery. Then, he was allowed to take his meals in the chow hall and attend two movies! (The first was a short about various Naval ships – whoopie!)

My favorite part of this letter was Dart’s remarks about the songs Dot had mentioned in one of hers. He likes “This Will be My Shining Hour” as much as she does, but I was especially moved my his comments on “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”  “We all like it, but few are brave enough to listen to it all the way through. Usually somebody chokes up and says, ‘Turn that damn thing off!'” Can’t you just see a ward full of sailors – many of them just teenagers away from home for the first time and scared about the future – being drawn to that song, yet not able to handle the emotions it elicits?

He writes a humorous little assessment of his first attempt at being a playwright. It was about a little boy who wanted to ride a train. (Of course!) It was such a painful and pitiful excuse of a play that he turned to writing poetry instead. Actually, after Dad died, we discovered a notebook full of poetry he had written as a young man, and it was stunningly good. I promise to post some of it here someday.

He mentions that Dot said Gordon would be home for Christmas during their phone call. I hope that means she’ll have a chance to see her brother after all. He encourages her to keep her chin up about the upcoming formal, guessing that she looks really “nifty” in her gown. He also raises a teensy hope that he’ll be able to escort her to the February formal dance.

After a little more chitchat, he regretfully closes, bringing their “visit” to an end.

Dot’s letter is a study in exuberant gratitude, best left to be read in it’s entirety. Treat yourself to the pleasure of a young girl’s joy in her life. (And, yes, she’ll get to see Gordon over Christmas!)