The Power of Love

                                The Power of Love

January 17, 2023

To my dearest darling wife, Marjorie,

Today, Ben and I discovered an old shoe box in Mom’s closet, way in the back.

You would have thought all the dust would make us sneeze, but it was surprisingly clean from dust and dirt!

The box was full of letters written by my great-grandfather and great-grandmother to each other.

Inside the box was a letter from my Mom.  She wrote to me and Ben and asked us to read all the letters written by great-Grandad and great-Grandma.

Ben and I looked at each kinda weird at Mom’s request, but we started reading the letters to each other.  We were in Mom’s room for hours, fascinated and mesmerized at what we were reading.  Then we took a break and ordered a pizza and drank some beer.  We continued reading the letters downstairs in the family room.

It turns out they started writing to each other after they first met in high school.  They lived in separate towns and met at a high school dance.  They continued writing letters when great-Grandad went to war overseas, and even when he returned.  They eventually got married and started our family.  They continued to lovingly write to each other, every day, until they died.

I copied Mom’s letter so you can read it too.  It’s the next page of this letter. 

March 3, 2008

To my dearest sons, Thomas, and Benjamin,

If you are reading this letter, then I must have passed away.  You are beginning to go through my things to decide which to keep, donate or throw away.

I have a final request.  The letters in this box must be read and handed down to your children and grandchildren.

They are not love letters between your father and I, but love letters between your great-grandfather and great-grandmother, from the time they met in high school, through WW1, until the time they both died.

My father gave them to me, and asked me to read them.  He wanted me to pass them down to the both of you, and for you to pass them down to your children.  

Daddy wanted me to know of, and believe in, the power of love.  Even though he and Mom got divorced, they still loved each other.  He knew I was thinking of divorcing your Dad, so he asked me and your dad to read these letters, to stop us from making the same mistake he made.   You two were still young and probably don’t remember any of this.  You didn’t understand what was going on but saw us fighting all the time.  We both thought that a divorce would solve all our problems.

Daddy invited your father and I to have dinner with him one night.  Over a glass of wine, he brought out the shoebox and asked us to read the letters out loud to each other.  Of course, we didn’t want to, we were so angry at each other, but we both obliged Daddy.   

After a few glasses of wine and several letters later, we began to enjoy what we were reading as well as each other’s company.  We laughed together, cried together, and were astonished at what they had gone through…together.  

They stayed together through the very worst times of their lives,  war, poverty, death of their siblings, death of their friends, the struggle to survive. Yet, their love for each other only grew stronger each day.  Nothing could tear them apart, except death, and even after Grandma died, Grandad would still write letters to her.  He wrote about his day, funny things that happened, family news.  He wrote to her every day until the day he died.

Daddy stumbled upon the letters after Grandad died.  He sat and read them one night and then he told me, he cried.  He cried for not loving Mom enough to stay and work through their problems.  He cried at the great love between his parents.  He cried at the loss of love and the loss of his dad and mom.  That’s when he decided to give me the letters and made me promise to read them with your Dad.  He knew if we realized how much we still loved each other, then we could face any difficulties together.

At the end of the evening, your Dad and I sat for a long time, not saying anything to each other.  Then your Dad gently took my hand in his, and said, “I love you.”  He looked deep into my eyes and kissed me.  I still remember that kiss to this day.

At that moment, the money problems, the work problems, the stress we were under, all seemed so minor.  We decided it was better to deal with our problems together, as a force to be reckoned with, instead of apart, on our own.

One day, your Dad surprised us with a day trip to the lake.  The next week I surprised you all with a home cooked meal.  Beef Wellington, scalloped potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding followed by a chocolate souffle for dessert!  You know I was never a great cook, but that day, I tried and tried and kept throwing out my mistakes, until I got the recipe just right!  You all said it was the best meal ever!  

We started to write to each other every day, just like your great-Grandad and great-Grandma did. Sometimes they were just notes on a piece of scrap paper, saying, “I love you,” or “I miss your smile.”  Something nice to say even when we didn’t feel like being nice.  It kept us together all these years.  Our lives were happier and our love was stronger than ever before.

I miss your Dad very much and I know you miss him too.  I miss my Dad and Mom, as I know you both will miss me when I’m gone.  

Remember me, Dad, Grandad and Grandma and great-Grandad and Grandma and keep us in your hearts.  As you read these love letters to each other, and then to your wives, and then to your children, I believe you will come to know the power of love.

Keep these letters close to your heart.  Remember their soft words, the love that spoke through their pen, and how happy they were, even in the face of poverty, war, and strife. They stayed together through their love for each other.

I am in Heaven watching over you both.  I am your Guardian Angel.  

All my love,

Mom

So, Majorie, what do you say instead of splitting up and me getting my own apartment, I come home and surprise you and the kids with a trip to the lake?

We can read the letters by the firelight, and smooch in the moonlight.

What do you say?  Can we give it another try?

I Love You With All My Heart,

Tom