Veterans Day - Remembering Dad

Pulling Dad's letters from an old tin,  I feel his loneliness as I read his letters home. 

(FYI, Jo was my mom)

Jan. 18, 1946

Friday

Dear Mom and Dad,

"Just a few lines to let you know I am well..."  

"I have been transferred again, this time on a ship..." 

"Have you seen Jo lately?"

July 15, 1948

"I got paid yesterday.  Boy I sure did need it.  I got forty four dollars....."

Tokyo:  Sept. 30

Dear Mom and Dad,

"Just a few lines to let you know I am well and hope you all are the same.."

"How's the garden getting along this year?"

"I got a letter from Jo the other day...."

"Don't forget to send me some pictures..."

Monday, Aug. 13

"We sure have been having good news lately about the war.  It looks to me like it's almost over..."

"I haven't gotten any mail from you in about a month. I guess I'll get it all at once..."

"I don't want to miss this chance to get home for Christmas..."

"Have you seen Jo lately? I wrote to her tonight. Tell her to answer and let me know if she gets it..." 

"Well this makes almost 2 1/2 years I have been in the Navy.  It don't seem that long. I am getting to like it better than I did before. I get to see a lot of places and things.."

Dad, the handsome sailor on the left.

Love, Bob EM 3R

Dad died when he was just 53 years of age, leaving with me many memories and a heartfelt gratitude to God for an earthly father who was quiet, loving, generous, compassionate, hard-working, and honest.

I was blessed with two brothers who also served in the military, Jimmy, Marines and Larry, Navy.     

God bless those who serve... who give of themselves...  to keep our country a safer place.  

  

TRUTH or DARE

So I've started writing my next book.  Though it is 'based' on the true story of my mom's life, and mine too, it is FICTIONAL.  So readers will not know truth from fiction.  Haha!  Should name it TRUTH OR DARE.  

  I've been wanting to write my 'memoirs' but lets face it.  They would be quite boring to most readers.  So I will put my imagination to work and try and make the read more interesting.  Seriously, it's fun.  

The title so far is MY BLUE HEAVEN.  I've finished the first chapter but I have a long way to go.  It keeps my mind occupied and keeps me busy.  Meanwhile, my latest, BLINK is currently in production and will be an audiobook within the next month or so.  Excited!

Seventeen year-old Me:

 

Bunny Chase

Dear Diary,

This, from Mom:  Gracie, you wouldn't know a bunny if you ran into one.  She's speaking of my poor eyesight, I'm pretty sure.  Well.  I can report that night before last - in the wee-hours of the morning when Mom left me out to pee, I did indeed run into Bunny. No, really.  I literally ran into her.  And I can report that this old girl still has some life left in her-because there was a chase.  A very brief chase, but still. The only thing I caught was Mom laughing when she brought me back inside.  "You still got it," she said.  She must be as blind as I am cause I obviously didn't get it.  It ran way too fast. Gracie.