LOVE

Bob and I spent the weekend in North Carolina with his sister and bil.  Our nieces came, also,  so we had the best time playing scrabble and watching all three of the dogs run around.

Lily

Lucy

Levi-who is also a huge Tarheel fan.

   But, the most inspiring part of my weekend was spent reading letters.

 

Love letters...

As Jane was busy cleaning out my in-laws house recently she came upon two sets of love letters.

My sweet in-laws met in elementary school and were great friends right away.  That friendship quickly turn into a love that lasted  until my MIL passed away in August of 2008.

There were two stacks of letters.

 

She kept her letters from him wrapped in green ribbon.  He kept his letters from her in an old cigar box.  The first letter was dated 1940 and the last was 1943.  They were married in 1942.   I read every letter this weekend and was so moved.  I was moved at the depth of love and emotion that my father in law was able to express in writing.  It was sweet, concerned, and lovingly teasing.  They were approximately 35 miles apart at this time and he missed her terribly.  He really wanted her to move back to the "country" so they could see each other more often.  She was living in Richmond, but her grandmother still lived in the country.  I really admired the way my mother in law didn't just fall all over herself for his letters-someone must have told her to play it cool and let him make the bold moves.  He was obviously putty in her hands.  Each letter began with sweet terms of endearment.

How lost and lonely he must be without her.  I know that this love did  not end when she drifted into Alzheimer's or when she passed away.  How lucky for our family, especially our children and their children, are to have this fine example of the love that we witnessed written in letters for us to cherish.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments

[Cathy]

Your family is indeed lucky to have something tangible to remind you of something so solid, yet intangible....

[emmy]

Hi Jane
I see he was writing from Beaverdam- My granparents and then my father had a General Store that was not far from Beaverdam- it was in Buckner. Once again it looks like it is a "small" world for us. What a treasure you have in those love letters and memories.

Take care
emmy

[Suzanne]

Thank you for the lovely story....you hadme reaching for a tissue and it's 7 am!