Letter #430831

Brantford, Canada, August 31, 1943

Dearest Girl,

Received your letter this morning. I certainly did enjoy my weekend visit and I’m glad to hear you did also. Just to see you makes any moment enjoyable with you. I was glad to hear you received your cheque. Today was payday here and I received $10.30, which added with your allowance, brings my pay exact to the penny for the month. So I guess we both are quite rich for a time.

Sorry I did not have the time to write you yesterday, but they changed the long day back to Monday as there is a dance in the drill hall tonight. We didn’t finish drilling until 9 PM so I was quite tired by then. The train was about twenty-five minutes late Sunday. It didn’t arrive at Brantford until 3 AM. They had a couple new coaches on and we traveled back in style. The seats are comprised of two padded chairs with padded backs which can be tilted back. There are foot rests on the floor, like on the street cars and ashtrays inserted in the back of the chair ahead of you. Some class!

We went over both obstacle courses today with our packs, steel helmets, and rifle, slung across our backs. It was quite an effort and we were all all fogged out when we finished. We had just started over them yesterday in the afternoon when it started to pour rain. By the time we had finished, we were soaked to the skin and covered with mud.

Most of the fellows are going to the dance tonight so it will be a good chance to catch up on my washing and ironing. So I guess I will wash everything I have and go to bed early as we have a twelve mile route march tomorrow. My feet have healed up and I hope nothing happens tomorrow. I think I will take two pairs of socks with me and change them halfway. Well that’s all the news there is for today. I don’t think I will be in this weekend so I imagine the next time I see you I will be coming from Camp Borden, but we shall see.

Well, take care of yourself darling. Don’t work too hard and don’t worry. I will write again tomorrow.

Good night precious.

Your Boy.

P.S. I love you, I love you, I love you and I’m thinking of you every minute. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Reflection: Everybody is rich in something, at some point. The money we use to exchange goods and services certainly helps. What if you don’t have any money but want to feel rich? Find a way to be grounded, something you can see, touch, smell, taste, or hear. There is an abundance of something for everyone. The trick is to be insightful enough to be aware of it and enjoy it. Celebrate the richness of what you have in abundance. You may never have it again. This is basic training for life and an important lesson to learn for later on in the story to understand how Horgie and Peach Pie got through the darkest of their days during World War 2.