Love Letter 60 – Auntie Bertha

Love Letter 60 – Auntie Bertha

The southern Gulf Island’s blue-gray mass rises from the Straight of Georgia like a sleeping giant awakening from an early morning slumber . . .
I rouse with a nudge from the brilliant shared sunrise and the first sips of honey infused chai tea. I’m captivated by the rhythmic Elmo Hope Trio’s Minor Bertha as I’m lured into the final free-flowing pages of Mom’s Love Letter 60, January, 1961:

Page 7
12:10 a.m. Sunday
Thank gosh another Saturday nite has passed – only 4 more alone.
Phoned Uncle Frank & asked him to drop down & visit me – real lonely to-nite.
Such a guy – said he probably wouldn’t be a perfect substitute but intended on visiting us anyway. So evidently Aunt Bertha & Uncle Frank just left.
Sat, talked, laughed & ate. So glad the time went by so quickly.
Must have a bath now then to bed.
I love you so very much honey!
Good nite my love!
Will close now & finish your letter tomorrow.
Am rather tired now, but will get up for church.
Will pray for us tomorrow.
Maybe I’ll manage a dozen pages for your letter this time.

5 p.m. Sunday –
To finish your letter.
Up for church this morning and then for coffee.
Had a lengthy talk to Auntie Bertha re: our wedding nite and she said she’d let us have her place & Uncle Frank could drive us there, then take our car (Walter’s car) back to the reception and our own car (Hornet) could be driven up to our place (18 Lake St). Also your stuff will already be at Aunt Bertha’s seeing you’ll be staying there and I could take my nite attire down on Friday, even stay at Aunt Bertha’s the 2 nites – real privacy for sure dear!
That hotel is real busy & people milling around from the pub.
No doubt he’d drop us here when he got up — What time will your Mom and sisters be leaving Sunday?
Also dear Auntie Bertha & Uncle Frank will buy us a sun burst 8-day (wind) clock for a wedding gift – very little choice here dear – if you wouldn’t mind looking around – they want a pretty nice one – so look at good ones dear – please write & tell me right away – they’ll send you money – perfect for our panelled wall!
Please send your list as soon as possible honey.
I’ve run out of invitations for myself – great job, but have 36 for you dear.
Will have to send more announcements than I had anticipated.
Well dear will close for sure now – we’re off to Ethel & Bud’s for supper.
So much love to you —
Bye now
Yours always,
Bette XXXX
XXXX
Chopp – Chopp!
Wish you were here – it seems no sooner I send you a letter I think of something else to ask you.

A Salo comic from The Saturday Evening Post is tucked within Mom’s 9 handwritten pages – making light of a honeymoon gone wrong in the midst of a rainstorm and a broken down vehicle.

Well Mom, Auntie Bertha appears to be holding all the cards for a well executed wedding night – I’m confident you and Dad will be gifted with ‘real privacy for sure’ – provided there’s no mixup with the car situation?!