Love Letter 5 – Bryan
Love Letter 5 – Bryan
The days leading up to Thanksgiving weekend find me especially grateful for family time – both present and past. The autumn week holds delightful times with my treasured present and cherished times with my defining past.
My newly tattooed forearm wrinkles under the protective adhesive film as daylight fades to night. I dim the dining amber bulbs, cue the music to the Psychedelic Furs Heaven and venture even further back than where this true love story and journey began – into Berkeley, California 1959, pages tucked into Mom’s Love Letter 5 . . .
Mom’s recently (1960) added comment:
Remember this one dear!!
Dad’s letter:
c/o International House
BERKELEY 4, Calif.
Nov. 8/59
Dear Bette,
You were right – for a few moments did not know who was writing me from such a g-forsaken and unheard of place called Snow Lake!
Then I saw “Nisbet” and remembered that you and Joan were thinking of coming to Frisco. You also amaze me, Bette, who told you how to spell my name? You must also have a photographic mind to remember the address I gave you.
Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise to hear from you and am happy to hear that you’re coming to “the land of opportunity and sunshine.” Couldn’t take another winter in the bush, hey? Would you believe me if I said it has only rained once since I’ve been here? Well if you did you’d be a fool ‘cause I’m a habitual liar! No, has only rained twice. Not bad though, eh what? Temperature has been averaging around 70 degrees.
Believe you’ll all really enjoy living here: climate is perfect, scenery is beautiful, people are friendly and I know of no other place than Frisco where you can get drunk faster. The night life is tremendous, although “I don’t get around much anymore” on account of my studies, you know.
Really, am really buried in the books, did promise one guy I’d go beatniking with him next week, though, over in Frisco. By the way, Berkeley is just across the Bay from Frisco – about a 15 minute drive via the Bay Bridge, which is quite a structure from an “engineering point of view,” as you put it. Haven’t cased the Alta Bates Community Hospital yet for you but guess I could say without reprisal that it has four walls – unless, of course, we’ve had an earthquake by the time you read this letter! This is a major earthquake zone y’know. Earthquakes and sharks (the water kind).
You know Bette, there is so much to do and see down here that it’s a cryin’ shame a guy (ME) has to spend all his time cooped up in an institution (INTERNATIONAL HOUSE) just studying. Now I’m feeling sorry for myself. Was wondering whom I could sponge a few home-cooked meals from when I received your letter. I’ll supply the wine! O.K.? (I like steak).
By the way, next time you see Gord Duncan say “hello” for me and tell him he’s practicing his engineering in the wrong part of the country, as he no doubt has realized. So he’s already got a kid and a half – what’s he trying to do – populate the North all by himself?
Guess we’ll see you in a few weeks, Bette. If you know how, when and where you’ll be arriving drop me a line and I can pick you up if I’m not tied up, with studying, that is.
See ya,
Bryan
The sparks were suggestively subtle but definitely ignited between you and Dad (Bryan) in 1959 – like two distant yet determined fireflies attracting one another with your blinking signals . . . “the land of opportunity and sunshine” indeed!
