The weeks in a hospital bed are taking a toll on our hero. His letter, while containing some humorous bits, is a little cynical and bored. But he never misses a chance say how much he appreciates Dot’s letters.
He writes of finally having a radio for a few hours, which a nurse borrowed to use on the ward. There was a 15 minute jive program that had the “up” patients dancing for the entertainment of their fellow “inmates.” Dart, never much of a dancer himself, loved watching these guys do their “sick-bay shuffle.”
He fills in a couple of pages with corny one-liners, probably heard on the ward, and some silly conversation about Dot eating spaghetti until it ran out her ears. He promised to practice his shorthand and send her his practice sheet, filled with the only symbol he knows (or cares to know, most likely.)
The final page might shed some light on his flippant and somewhat impersonal note. “Right now I’m passing through the most dangerous and painful stage of the operation. So if my letters are brief, please understand.”
Dot wrote two letters today – one from her friend’s house, and one back at school. She told about going with her friends to see a double feature of “Alaskan Highway” and “Melody Parade.” After a midnight burger at the local diner, they returned to see the late, late show of “The Sky’s the Limit.” Obviously, movies weren’t ten bucks a pop in those days, so poor co-eds could see three in a single night!
She also told of listening to a new radio station in Kent where the announcer invited listeners to call in and request a song. She ran downstairs to the only phone in the house (!) and called the number. She said she was Dottie Chamberlain from Connecticut, asking him to play “String of Pearls.” Then she ran back upstairs to hear the announcer say “We just had a call come into the studio requesting “String of Pearls.” It came from Dottie Chamberlain from Kentucky.” Even though he’d flubbed her state, she was thrilled to hear her name on the radio.
She wrapped up the first letter by saying she was heading back to school and was sorry for such a nothing letter.
When she got back to school, there was a Great Lakes banner waiting for her. I guess she meant something signifying the Naval base where Dart is posted. Then she praised the Navy/Notre Dame game on Saturday night, saying “Oh, you’re just wonderful! You Navy men, I mean.”
She again apologized for a poor excuse for a letter, saying that although she looked forward to writing to him every day, she was afraid he’d get bored by her trivial notes, which was the last thing she wanted. On the blank back page of the paper, she wrote the large shorthand symbol, followed by a small period (dot).
