Love Letter 30 – Hardly Punchy

Love Letter 30 – Hardly Punchy

The branches of the magnificent wheeping Nootka cypress crack with every southwesterly gust as I make my way home from a much needed bakery break. I’m immediately reminded of my own creaking joints during a recent physio session and feel comforted knowing that Nootka and I share a similar graceful aging process.
Steps inside home sweet home Kitsilano, I pour my partially consumed rooibus chai tea into a thermal mug, cue up the silver sounds of Seal, prop myself comfortably onto the reclining loveseat and instantly enter the tantalizing pages of Mom’s Love Letter 30:

Alta Bates   4:00 A.M.
&  7:25 A.M.
#102
Oct 18/60

C U FRIDAY –
Hi My Dear!!
Have I told you lately that I love you, honey – well I do –
Now for a short explanation re: the crazy mixed up salutation (address corner).
When I got home at 7:15 A.M. I re-read your letter and was it ever a weirdy – couldn’t understand it myself – shouldn’t have had those extra 2 drinks for the road.
So now I’ll summarize the previous letter, ok:
1. Soon I’ll be w/ you, honey and can talk to you in person and participate in a few of “our activities” – hardly punchy –
Everyone is really bugging me now – asking me that if I’m this excited to see you now what about our wedding day – well – we’ll see – how about Oct 22/60 at 4 pm – if such the case I’ll take a uniform along so I can wear white.
2. Had a scrumptious supper at Mary Kaye and Jean’s – maybe too many drinks tho’ as I haven’t drank for so long & those hot toddys (had a sore throat all day, but gone now, dear) and creme de menthe!
Had her stereo going full blast and sang till we were nearly hoarse –
Finally made it to work at 11:30, phoned in previously to tell Marty I’d be a little late.
3. Had a real quiet, easy nite tho’ – so didn’t use too much of my extra energy – Got real tired after several hours so had to take a small dose of dexamyl (wake-up tabs).
Guess I’ve had rather little sleep lately – so much to do and everyone keeps phoning to say goodbye and have been out for the past 5 days it seems and am going out for supper, etc. right up until Thursday.
So please excuse the bags that will probably be under my hazel eyes (and I won’t have slept since early Thurs).
Off to Pat and Frank’s this evening – Bobby (Robert) has a tooth now! – a real doll.
Tomorrow Bobby, Mary-Jo, about 6 of us are going out for Chinese supper . . .
Then Thurs. off to 2612 for a farewell do – to Kirk and Marion’s for supper then the old crew is going to drop down for a few drinks – have to be at work @ 11 pm so will behave, honey – as I always do –
Can you believe it – only 3 more days, sweetheart –
There is my schedule – hope I’m ready by Thurs.
All is arranged, dear – the ticket is confirmed for sure.
Will definitely call again before Friday to make sure.

What I wouldn’t give to be sharing farewell dinners, sipping hot toddys and belting out a slew of songs with you and your besties Mom.
And wow, in 3 fleeting days sleep deprivation will take on a whole new meaning with you and Dad engaging in your ‘own activities’ . . . who’s hardly punchy now?!

I know it’s you and me baby, oh ya