Love Letter 21 – Air Lines

Love Letter 21 – Air Lines

Upbeat jazz swoons and swirls above and throughout the wood planked ceiling as I enter the welcoming air conditioned corner cafe. I situate myself along the street gazing windowed ledge, grateful to be escaping the stifling, sizzling heat of 2021, and comfortably enter the wee autumn hours of October, 1960 with Mom’s Love Letter 21:

4 A.M.
Alta Bates Hospital
Oct 4/60

Hi My Dear!
I love you my darling!
All I can think of is being w/ you again – you’re on my mind constantly.
So many wonderful thoughts of things to do –
1. visit w/ all your relatives and friends – hope I pass inspection
2. go shopping w/ the Christmas decorations all around
3. snow
4. a hockey game – hardly get excited – you’ll have a bruised arm from my pounding you (I have had very few bruises since you left my love – usually I walk into a chair or such as I venture into a darkened room at work at nite)
5. just to be w/ you! can hardly wait to have your arms around me – etc, etc.
I love you more than anything in this world, Bryan.
As I read over the above few lines see so frequently the phrase “can hardly wait” but oh how true.
Hope all is well in Winnipeg –
Gee even find it a little difficult to write as so many thoughts flash thru’ my mind at once I can’t write fast enough.
Received a letter from Carol ( your sister) to-day – it was so great to hear how everyone is.
Also my cousin wrote me a real letter – decided that maybe her young, innocent cousin should know some facts of life and more details of married life – really laughed throughout the letter.
She doesn’t think I’ll make it up to Flin Flon after I see you – she keeps saying we’ll get married before April but dear only 207 more days.
Finally talked w/ Mrs. Tyson before I came to work.
She mentioned she had thought about us all day Sunday as they had spent this past weekend at State Line – what wonderful memories eh, dear!
Well Ernie phoned the Air Lines this evening and off to the travel agency after work to-day.
Well honey am leaving San Fran at 9:30 A.M. – and tentatively this is the schedule.
I knew everything was working out too conveniently to have me arrive in Winnipeg w/ only 2 short stop-overs, but dear that has been changed.
Because of the time change the flight leaving Vancouver at 12:15, which would have taken me directly to Wpg by 4:40 pm, I miss by 15 mins – as I don’t arrive in Vancouver until 12:30 pm.
So now will have a 2 hour stop-over there then the fun begins –
Leave Vancouver 2:45 pm – arrive Calgary 5:40 pm, leave Calgary 6:10 pm, arrive Regina 8:50 pm, leave Regina 9:20 pm arrive Winnipeg 10:45 pm.
Unless there could possibly be another flight available.
Flight numbers 287 from here then Flight 577 – But as I said honey tomorrow will get all the details – all I want is to leave w/ Ernie & Joan at 9:30 A.M. from San Fran, then any flight that will bring me the fastest to you I’ll take.
Evidently we can definitely make reservations from here and when all is settled will write and tell you – then I could send you the money and you could purchase my ticket, eh and it will cost us a wee bit less – already?
If you would like to inquire dear about a flight back from Vancouver to Wpg anytime after 12:30 pm would appreciate it, but as I had mentioned we’re looking into the matter tomorrow.
Confusion? Not really, all will be down pat when we’re finished.
Also, Ernie & Joan are flying back Sunday after the Grey Cup game instead of Monday so Ernie will leave directly from Wpg to go home then instead of staying overnite.
Now there is a bit of news.
All I know dearest is that I’ll be w/ you Friday November 25th!!
I love you so very very much!
Work has kept me far more busier than usual for some reason.
The signal lights have really been flicking on and off so have been busy answering requests, etc.
Everyone fine here. Joan and Ernie busy at work.
We have some new Canadian nurses now – real cuties from Vancouver General Hospital. They have just started so no comment on how much they like their work – I could tell them a few things.
Was really beat & tired at work the nite before last (Sunday).
Had only 3 hours sleep so felt rather tired and lousy.
Went to bed for a couple of hours, then up for Church (went w/ Ernie) then Joan woke me up after an hour or so so we could go and watch some tennis at the Berkeley Tennis Club – could hardly stay awake, but feel much better now.
Always seem to get more tired between 4 and 5:30 A.M. so am fighting sleep now, but will survive well.
Haven’t done much else around Berkeley. Have 2 days off now, but am planning to clean the apartment and get a few things done around the place.
A week from to-day plan on going over to Palo Alto to visit the Tysons for several days – such a wonderful pair.
Did Carol and Don ever phone you – sure hope you had a chance to meet them.
Have watched T.V. as tentatively as before w/ the new programmes on – there are some new and good ones.
By the way, Joan inquired about shipping her stereo and some baggage back to Ottawa – cost her over $150 to ship it back – so she might sell it – she still is paying on it now.
Well my dear – will close now. Please say hello to all for me –
I love you, I love you –
Yours always, forever,
Bette xxxxxxxx
Chopp-Chopp

What could be more exciting than arranging travel home to your love – regardless of the exhaustive itinerary of countless flights and tiresome layovers? Mom clearly sees the end in sight through a series of Air Line departures and arrivals that lead her to the ultimate prize – collapsing in the arms of her darling . . . etc, etc!