Letter #430728

Brantford, Canada, July 28, 1943

Dearest Peach-Pie; 

I received your eagerly awaited letter and it certainly did something to me. To know you were thinking of me did me more good than anything in the world. I also am thinking constantly of you, sweetheart, even though my letters may seem scarce. I am awfully sorry to have forgotten your birthday, but will try to make up for it this weekend.

Yes, I will be home this weekend; arriving Friday night about 8:30 PM. I guess you will be at 311 Sunnyside so I will call for you there. I am counting the hours, darling.

We have been very busy this week. They make up for giving you a weekend pass by continuing lectures and drills till 9 PM every Monday. So from 6 AM till 9 PM is really a long day! We have had plenty of P.T. the last few days. This morning we went for a two mile run with a couple of rests now and then during which we have to do exercise. Then again this afternoon- another forty-five minutes P.T. finished off by a half mile run.

To make my weekend doubly enjoyable, they have put me down for dishes on Thursday, so I will certainly appreciate my leave. The work is becoming more enjoyable now as we are doing more fieldwork and less drills. Our N.C.O.s and officers are very nice and certainly have a lot of patience. We have the best N.C.O.s in the camp they say, and they are certainly okay to work with.

I haven’t been out of camp yet, but the boys report there is nothing in Brantford anyway, so I guess I’m not missing much. There is a park near the camp, which is called Mohawk Park, where there is dancing every Wednesday and Saturday nights, but have not been down to see it yet except on P.T. classes.

I was certainly glad to hear you were feeling fine and keeping busy knitting little things. It does me good to hear you tell me these things, as I am still a civilian and a home man at heart and I always will be knowing that I have a beautiful wife like you thinking of me. I am anxious to see the clipping about Albert and I am glad to hear he is coming home. The change will do him a world of good. I do not think there will be any trouble when he does come home as he is too valuable where he is.

Well dearest, I guess that is all the news there is for now. This is a late night tonight with lights out at 11 o’clock so will be able to catch up on my washing. I hope you have forgiven me for forgetting your birthday, but will certainly try to make up for it this weekend. So counting the hours till Friday. I will leave you dearest. Sending you my heart and all my love.

Your adoring husband.

Horgie.

P. S. I am saving all my kisses till I see you, but can manage and spare a few X X X X X X X.

You are forever in my thoughts, so good night dear.

Goo-Boy

Reflection: I used to love getting mail at summer camp. I am pretty sure I chose to have my August birthday week at camp just to receive my mom’s birthday card in the mail. I’m afraid of mail these days (it’s usually an unpaid bill!) but it sure is swell to open up a handwritten letter from someone who loves me. 

Who would you like to receive letters from? Not a text, not a Snapchat, email or any other type of instant messaging, a phone call or anything else, a real letter to open. 

Basic Training Tip: The easiest way to get a letter from someone is to write a letter first. So sit down and write a letter to someone you love. Start with writing a letter to yourself and set it aside. Read some letters in this edition and use Horgie’s words to inspire you or use them while you find your voice in expressing your sentiment for someone special you’d like a letter from. 

If you feel so moved to do so, please consider writing a letter to your local Legion or veterans home and say thank you to the families that have sacrificed so much for us to have the freedom of expression to love who we love and write to those we love, without fear.