Love letters

A couple of weeks ago I posted about my Grandma moving to a rest home.

Yesterday was the day. We shifted Grandma from her house and into the rest home. On Friday night, Rob and Dad shifted all the heavy furniture, and Dad cleaned her new room from top to bottom. On Saturday morning they shifted her bed, and Dad hung her mirrors, paintings and pictures. I went over after that to help, and we spent the next 7 hours packing, transporting, unpacking, tidying, sorting, shopping and generally helping Grandma settle in. It was totally exhausting, made more exhausting by the 99% humidity!

Grandma hadn’t seen the room until yesterday, but the first thing she said was “Oh, it’s just lovely!” … we couldn’t have asked for a better response! It was a huge relief for Dad (and the rest of us).

The really hard part is now over, but we still have a lot of work to do at her old house. A LOT of cleaning, packing and sorting, and of course putting the house on the market.

During the week, we found a pile of love letters Grandad had written to Grandma:

Grandad died about 20 years ago; he was 93. Yes, that means he was 60 when my Dad was born. Grandma was his second wife, and there was an age difference of about 25 years between them.
I have wonderful fond memories of my Grandad. He was a very special person to me.

Finding his letters was absolutely amazing. I curled up on the couch this afternoon and read them all.
I laughed. I cried.
It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life. To sit here today, in 2008, reading letters from 1949! Letters in my Grandad’s beautiful handwriting that still smell like him! Even after 20 years, I remember how he smelled. The letters smell just the same.
As I read them, I could almost hear his voice. I was trying to imagine him, a widower, falling in love again after many years, and being afraid of what people would think because of the age difference. I was trying to imagine life in this country 60 years ago. And through reading his words, I almost could.

I just had to share (and document, because I will return the letters to Grandma soon) a few excerpts from some of the early letters he wrote her before they were married. Including the letter in which Grandad tells Grandma how he feels about her:

26 December 1949

Dear B,
… For some time I have been conscious of an affinity, leading to a restrained admiration of you, because of age difference. I have however, considered this matter, and assume your youthful appearance somewhat betrays the real fact. Would you be good enough to inform me, subsequent to mature consideration, just what your thoughts are in respect to this aspect.
I remain yours very sincerely, A.

24 April 1950

My dear B,
Imagine my feelings as I withdrew from the box today’s mail. My eyes caught an early glimpse of your hand writing, and I must admit, a wave of excitement rose. I selfishly remained on the car park outside the P.O. to scan the contents then to reread a little later. And the photo, it’s lovely. I have it on my desk just now as I write, having brought it with me to my room. It has been adorning the piano all day. I’m not weak B, but, well it must be in love, never felt just so enthusiastic last time, but then you are so lovely.
Although I only posted my note this morning, as I sat at the table after tea reading the papers, with your photo before me, I just wanted to write a short note, to try and convey, in this very ordinary way, my feelings. These are of course difficult to express, could display them better if near you.
Lots of love, from your true love, A.

7 May 1950

My dear B,
It will be grand to see you Wednesday eve. My longings for you love, have made days seem like weeks.
Now I will turn in and secure a good sleep. ‘Tis fairly cold, company would be just the thing.
Take care of yourself. Soon I shall do that for you, at least the best I can. The anticipation is good.
Warmest love, A.

There were also several letters written after my Dad was born. Grandma had taken him down to visit her parents, leaving Grandad at home.
Grandad’s sense of humour came through in his letters.
In one, he wrote about how he had been so busy cooking onion, bacon & eggs for his dinner that he almost missed a wire (telegram) that had come through with a message from Grandma!
In another one, he wrote about sanding the parlour ceiling, leaving white dust everywhere (and saying it looked like Siberia), but not to fear, because he had “Tellus” (a brand of vacuum cleaner) at the ready to “lick it up”.

I know that I am so lucky to have been able to read these letters, as often things like this are not kept or preserved.
It reminds me why I keep all my letters, notes and cards from Rob (and why I make Rob keep all the letters, notes and cards from me).
One day MY grandchildren will have great delight in reading them, and I want them to have the same sense of wonder and amazement that I have been experiencing today.