I found an old wallet that was home to old
passports and long forgotten papers that needed to be looked at again if only
to see what they were. That's how I found a very precious letter, one that I loved
then and now. Even though it made me sad I felt the same joy I experience on
the first reading. Sigh!
It isn’t something I would normally publish
but it is such a powerful letter that I felt I wanted to share. To show off, if
you like, a bit like bragging. And why not, it’s not every day I don the
cloak of happiness and contentment and recall all those happy years with Joe.
I took a photograph of it but Joe’s writing
was not the easiest to read at the best of times so I took the decision to type
it out.
The letter was written when Joe was working
away. He was a chartered accountant so had to travel great distances to see and
work with various clients.
Here goes:
The date on the letter was 1 August l978.
It was the year we married – two days before a very snowy Christmas.
~~~
“Darling Valerie,
I feel good having somebody I love and cherish to write to. Yes,
life is pretty good really and knowing ‘somebody loves you’ provides hope and
faith in being.
Thank you for understanding my ‘ups and downs’. I do feel for
you, my beloved Valerie, you are my life both present and future. It is no game
of pretence, both our lives are too important to be abused by temporary
blindness, lasting love and caring is my goal, you are too precious to me for
any other persuasion.
Please remember that I love you and look forward to a real future with you at my side, never feel that I will desert your love, I hope you know me better than that, because I will strive to make our future a happy one.
Putting it simply, I love you.
Yours in devotion
Joe xx"
