Love Letter 74 – In Your Arms

Love Letter 74 – In Your Arms

The inner harbour is host to a delicate dance of taxiing ferries, floating planes and whaling watchers. The skirl of a distant bagpiper blankets compelling conversations of parliamentary passersby as I sit silently, unnoticed on a raised park bench alongside the clustering causeway. I’m easily removed from the present goings-on while remembering the recent ‘baritone growls’ of Leonard Cohen and the lingering prose of Mom’s Love Letter 74, February, 1961:

Thurs 8 p.m.

Hi darling!
I love you, my dear! Be so glad when I can say that to you instead of writing it down – and soon.
Do you realize, honey we will be an old married couple in 9 days (It doesn’t seem too long when we were counting in the hundreds – and we thought time was moving).
Oh Bryan soon we will be running out of corners to fill in our home.
Three more lovely gifts these past couple days – a steam iron (G.E.), a blanket (real nice – mohair & light) and beautiful crystal clear champagne glasses (6) from Ernestine – so very plain, but gorgeous!
Also have heard of other gifts – a tea pot to our china & the sugar & cream to our set.
How we’ll ever get everything down there is a wonder, but better still where we’ll put it is another thought.
Many things to do this weekend.
Yesterday had my day off & what a day. Had cleaned the house nite previous so slept in until 9:30 on  Wed.
To the hairdressers’ to see what they could do to my cottin’ pickin’ hair.
Went & visited Gran for lunch, then had Walter’s car all day.
Drove Susan to have her dress tried on  – oh honey does she ever look like a doll! She is feeling some better, but lost quite a bit of weight as she hasn’t eaten for nearly a week – hope she puts some flesh on before our wedding.
Am pleased w/ the bridesmaids’ attire.
Feel great my dear not too tired but just getting so damn anxious to be married and have our own time for ourselves, alone!
Every where I turn there seems to be someone asking me something about our wedding, etc etc.
And only 4 more days of work – hurray.
How are you my dear – surviving under the stress?
Please take it easy on your driving.
Got a lovely letter from Mom J to-day so will drop one final note before I see you all.
Everyone is fairly good at home.
Gran still not feeling too good at all – she is still at Aunt Bertha’s – w/ a bit of flu symptoms as well as everything else.
Well honey – will close now and drop you a few words on the week-end.
One week to-nite I’ll be in your arms – Zowie!!
I love you so very much!!
Yours always,
Bette
XXXXXX
Chopp-Chopp!!

The rooms are settled at the Royal, dear.
Also my love you mentioned money – how would you like to lend your mate about $50 of her loan – this is an expensive wedding I tell you.

I hear you Mom – the stresses of wedding planning while living apart is real! But holy moly, just one itsy-bitsy week and you’ll both be twirling and swirling in each other’s arms like an old married couple . . . Zowie indeed!

And dance me to the end of love