Letter #430803

Brantford, Canada, August 3, 1943

PTE. F. Horgan B148915. #20B.T.O.

C Company, Hut C-4, Brantford, Ont.

Dearest Peach-Pie;

I arrived back okay, as you can gather by this letter. I was lucky on Sunday night as the train stopped at the Chicago Flyer at Sunnyside because they had lots of room aboard. It does not stop at Hamilton, only at Brantford, London, and Windsor. So we arrived at Brantford at 11:10 PM. The extra sleep came in handy as Monday was a tough day. It was really hot here and we went until 9 PM. We had quite a thunderstorm sometime Tuesday morning. Did it ever wake me up!

It rained all day today, so we were quite soaked at the finish of classes. The last class was Bren gun instruction, and they marched us about a mile out into the woods as it stopped momentarily, but we had just arrived at the place and had commenced class when it came down. They carried on for about a half an hour, but had to give up. It was raining so hard. By the time we had marched back we were nearly drowned. We finished off the day with a two mile run in the rain just dressed in shorts and boots. Some fun. But a good hot shower soon after had us back in shape again.

Well, darling, how is everything at home? Hope you are feeling fine and taking things easy. I shall never forget last weekend, dearest, it was so wonderful being with you. A little absence from you makes me realize how wonderful you are. Though I would give anything if it were all over and I could be with you forever. That is all I would ever want in this world.

There are quite a few changes being made in the camp, quite a number of the NCO’s are being sent overseas, including our corporal. He is leaving tomorrow so we are taking up a collection for him. So I guess we shall see some new faces.

Well darling, I will close now to catch the mail. Answer soon sweetheart as your letters are eagerly awaited. We do not know about next week and yet but will let you know as soon as it is posted.

Good night Peach Pie, your loving husband, Goo-Boy.

Write soon, darling, as I miss you terribly. Millions of X X X Xs.

Reflection: A good hot shower at the end of the day and before dinner will get you back in shape. I lose my shape as the day goes on, especially when getting pulled in different directions or absorbing the negativity of the world. Well, that’s life sometimes. To make life just 1% better, get back into shape by having a good hot shower. Read that again, a good hot shower. 

My good hot shower includes lights off, flickering light from a fake candle, listening to Rabbits and Wolves by Harry Hannah. I have my special soap I bring out for such an occasion. What does a good hot shower look like to you? What does it smell like? What does the water pressure feel like? How hot is the water? How hard is the pressure? Where is your good hot shower happy place? What Harry Hannah song will you listen to on the Spotify to elevate your good hot shower to great? It’s the little things in life that matter. This is basic training for life, to learn how to get back in shape, and is important to learn for what is to come later on in 1944.