Love Letter 67 – Mock Wedding
Love Letter 67 – Mock Wedding
A cool pre-cleanse shower alerts every sense of my body before tiptoeing into the tepid tot’s area of the spectacularly sized aquatic centre. My sights are immediately set on a lone candy cane striped pool noodle and within seconds the noodle is wrapped snuggly under each armpit as I dodge swimmers exiting hastily from the circulating current and eagerly gain access into the lazy river. Aside from a duo of goggle equipped, partially submerged swimmers paddling awkwardly counterclockwise to the ‘river’s’ guided flow I’m left relatively untouched whilst losing myself in the circulating chlorinated liquid abyss. Refreshing thoughts swirl in my mind as I stare upward at the timber catenary roof and reflect on Mom’s endlessly engaging tales within Love Letter 67, January 1961:
1:05 a.m.
Hi My Dearest!
How wonderful to hear your voice a couple hours ago — just fabulous!
Oh I love you so very much, honey!
Thank goodness I wasn’t in such shock this time as last, but a surprise.
Oh Bryan I wish so many times that you were w/ me at a shower or just receiving cards & letters – it’s so thrilling.
We sure are spoiled dear – so many things to help us out in our new apartment —
This was a kitchen shower —
We’ve got cake pans, pie plates, glasses, measuring cups & spoons, muffin tins, casserole dishes, recipes, mixing bowls, etc etc.
I had just tried on my gown and spent nearly 1 1/2 hours over there when I went up to Uncle Frank’s & Nana’s – roared into the front room & nearly fell over when 18 ladies or so were there.
A great time —
Mrs Guymer (Esther) (remember her & Harry were up – w/ toys) was the hostess and what a great lady — we laughed ’till we were nearly sick.
They put on a mock wedding w/ soloist & all.
Also played a skit where the remarks that were said – were to have been said on our wedding nite!
Also a skit w/ the wording of a telegram – sent by you & me to my Mother after “our nite.”
Five worded telegrams w/ our initials BETTE & BRYAN — saved them for you to read when we get settled.
I know this letter will sound confusing, dear, but am still excited, frustrated & so very much in love w/ you.
We packed everything in a cab & came home.
It was so great to have Gran there — sure makes me feel great.
Everyone is pretty fair at home — excited just.
Now I see why it would be nice to have about a week off before the wedding.
Seems there’s so much going on that when it’s time to sleep — too much to think about to relax.
I’ll have so much to tell you about dear when we have time.
Uncle Frank is writing out a cheque & I’ll be sending to you, dear for our clock —
If you want to get it & send it alright — whatever you want (they’re just a little worried about something happening to it enroute) – but would be nice to see it.
Hope you’ll find my shoes alright — then I won’t have to buy any — don’t want to buy anything unnecessary – got enough stuff to get as it is — lots of things come up that you don’t realize.
Great fun tho’.
Can’t say much else right now, dear as time for bed (nearly 1:30 now).
Good nite, honey.
I love you more than anything in the world.
Love,
Yours always,
Love Bette
XXXXX
Love to see your Frat. Bros!
Chopp – Chopp!!
(How come no remark about the pic on the phone)
Let me guess – Auntie Ethel and Grandma Hazel played bride and groom during the mock wedding?! What a sight (and sound) it must have been Mom – a gaggle of girls babbling and snorting while enacting theatrical wedding performances, honeymoon skits and titillating telegrams while crammed onto Nan’s ‘makeshift stage’ – you must have peed yourself a hundred times . . . I know I would have.
I do, I do, I do, I do
