Love Letter 33 – Bowling

Love Letter 33 – Bowling

Spring has sprung in Kitsilano with a flurry of hopeful athletes sweating it out on track and fields, wellness enthusiasts downward dogging on unrolled mats and hormonal teens sneaking kisses on school bleachers as almost all insulated indoor activities are magically shifting outdoors – hallelujah!
I, too, am bubbling buoyancy with a belly full of banana, chocolate chip muffin and an earful of Bonnie Raitt’s bluesy vocals as I come motoring down the winding wrinkled street of Arbutus and making a slight right onto an overly crowded West 15th Ave.
I collect the local produce from all corners of the trunk and make my way into the solitude of suite #1969. I exchange my reusable grocery bag for my zippered owl embroidered Tofino towel bag housing the treasured collection of Mom’s 76 handwritten love letters. I graze each envelope with my finger tips before gently removing the envelope post marked Nov 5, 1960 and dive directly into the leisurely lines of Mom’s Love Letter 33:

18 Lake Street
Nov 4/60

Hi Honey!
Received your letter yesterday & was it ever great to have it waiting for me when I got home from work.
I miss you so very much dear – now it’s because I’m so close to you – (only 600 miles) but also everyone bugs me constantly about driving down to Wpg. It seems like so many are going down these next 2 weeks.
Dr. Stinson left this morning – all day yesterday kept saying ” Oh Bette, come w/ me and surprise Bryan” – would have loved nothing better, but still poor – only 3 months & 14 more days, honey.
– much to do and arrange.
Have talked and got fairly straightened out on some of our plans – will tell you all, honey when I write a more organized letter.
Man is there ever a lot to think about and it seems like the day passes so very quickly – 9 in the morning and never home until after 6 at nite.
Before you know it the evening has gone.
People seem to be dropping over constantly.
At the clinic I seem to know every second person & chat w/ everyone – you know me, honey.
By the way dear do you know a Barrie Stinson (engineer) – brother of Dr. Stinson.
Got a letter from Ernie – guess she is definitely staying down there & pleased about the same.
Joan rather confused, but still plans on returning to Ottawa – her & Ernie haven’t been getting along too well lately – Joan w/ Mary Kaye all the time.
Her letter was real nice and so anxious to hear from me so will write her tomorrow.
Gosh dear I love you – can hardly wait to be in your arms –
Wow – so many people ask about you and I am so very proud to tell them what a wonderful smart man I have – sure am lucky!
Wish you were beside me right now – these damn week-ends.
Am lonely, but will think more of our days together after Feb 18th.
Here it is after 7:30 pm and must dash – Mom, Eth, Shirl & I are roaring down to the pub for a beer – 4 women, can you believe it, then bowling.
Hope my honey is working on his thesis – I hate reminding you dear, but it’s because I love you so!! And I want that finished in a couple of weeks, especially before next month.
Everyone fairly good here, but sorry to say Gran isn’t good at all & am glad to be near her – her mind is clear but she is extremely lonely, no desire to get better “what have I got to look forward to” attitude, so try my best to cheer her.
Oh honey, will close now – I need you!
Soon we’ll be together again – Love!
Yours truly,
Bette xxxx
Chopp – Chopp

Small towns hold big reminders of just how small they are with countless ‘pop-ins’ at 18 Lake Street, steady streams of familiar faces at the clinic and endless chin wags around town. And yet, I feel your loneliness kick in with the absence of your loving man now only 600 miles away, Mom. Maybe a few strikes at the bowling alley with the girls will take your mind off ‘other activities.’

Thinking ’bout you every day
Thinking ’bout you every night