Letter #430823

Brantford, Canada, August 23, 1943

Dearest Wonderful Girl;

Here is the letter I promised I would write. I arrived back O.K. but a little late. Four o’clock AM to be exact. What a trip. We got two miles past the Humber bridge when a rear tire went flat. We changed tires and put on the spare. We then proceeded another ten miles and it also went flat. So there we were, twelve miles out on the highway with no tires. After a conference, we decided to abandon the car and take to the highway. We split into groups of two. I went with a chap named Bob Keyes. We finally got a ride about 1:30 AM. This chap drove to Hamilton but instead of letting us off the highway he drove right into Hamilton. We got there at 2 AM and had no idea where we were or how to get out of the city and onto the highway again. We finally got directions from an Air Force fellow. We walked about two miles and again the Luck of the Irish came to our rescue. We flagged down a chap and asked him for a lift to the highway when we got in the car, he said he was going to Brantford if that would help us out. We almost wept on his shoulder. En route we picked up two more of the original bunch and as I said, we arrived about four in the morning.

We all got there in time, except for one of the fellows who arrived at 7:30. He had to appear before the O.C. as being A.W.O.L., but we explained the whole thing to the Corporal, who in turn told it to the Major so he was let off. What a trip.

Today I made a visit to the dentist. He extracted three roots and one wisdom tooth and I didn’t even feel it. The freezing is wearing off now and they are starting to ache a bit. (You would think they were still there the way I talk.) but it will be O.K. in the morning. He certainly is a good dentist.

Well, my darling, how are you feeling? Fine, I hope. You make me so happy, darling. One weekend with you is the nearest thing to heaven, precious. Every time I felt discouraged last night I would think of you, and everything would seem bright again. I knew as long as I kept thinking of you and next week and everything would turn out O.K.. After every weekend home with you darling, I think I am as happy as it is possible to be. But each time you add a little bit more. Nobody else but you could do it sweetheart. Well wonderful just four more days and we will be together again. So until then my peach pie, good night.

Your Boy-Boy.

P.S. Two whole nights with you, millions of millions of kisses to the most wonderful girl in the world.

Goo-Boy

Reflection: Always show up and stand up for the members of your tribe. Rules are rules, like no AWOL. And then there is the reality of life and reasonableness in getting through. Horgie and his buds stood up for their comrade to make sure he was excused from the AWOL incident. Be reasonable, be compassionate, and be kind. Not everyone will treat you that way but that’s okay—that is part of the learning where you fit in and who your tribe is. If people are not willing to show up for you, move along, they are not your tribe. Get with a swell bunch of fellows. It was what I needed to get my shit together, I’m sure it will help you move forward. 

Bonus Reflection! Remember when Horgie ditched the dentist a few days ago? He didn’t ditch the dentist entirely, just put if off for a few days so that it work with his make out schedule on the weekend. The life lesson for basic training in life is this; there are things in life you have to deal with. You can ditch them for another time but don’t procrastinate and keep putting it off. What do you need to get done that you’ve been putting off for a long time? Start working 1% better each day to prepare, confront, and deal with it so you can move forward with your life.