Follow-up Friday: From Betty to Bob – I’m Yours

“Follow-up Friday?” you ask, “What’s that?”  Well I’ll tell you what it is.  It’s when you obtain some added information that you want to add to your latest post, but you’re too eager to wait for Surplus Sunday.  I know that I made it very clear in my most recent post that you would not be reading any long lost love letters, but I can now happily report that I was wrong.  This is the best thing that I’ve ever been wrong about!

My sister Jamie and I had discussed those long lost letters during the Thanksgiving holiday and neither of us had any idea where those letters had gone to.  We assumed that either our mom or dad had destroyed the letters after we found them and read them.  So I wrote my post on Wednesday and shared it with y’all.

Then this morning I woke up and found a text from Jamie.  She had found a few letters!  I was so excited and when I read them I have to admit that I got a bit choked up.  I also laughed a bit because the letters my mom wrote have quite a bit of humorous points to them.  I was relieved that at least a few letters survived.  From the letters that did survive, it’s clear that they were writing to each other daily.  It is also clear that they were in love.

His letter was written on July 5, 1952, (which is exactly 10 years before our Jamie was born) and he starts out with a “Hi, Baby.”  Not long after that he says, “I sure miss you, cutey.”  He talks about how busy he is with training and not sure he will be able to write every day, but don’t be surprised if some day there isn’t a letter.  (This sets up for a funny exchange in the next letter.)  He then signs off, “All my love.”

I’m not sure of the date of the letter mom wrote, but it starts with “Hi Honey.”  This is a term of endearment that they both called each other for the rest of their lives.  I had been wondering if it had been used that far back, and now I know.  The letter continues as a response to his letter about not writing daily.

She was not expecting a letter and her sister Alma must have known this.  So when Alma went to check on the mail and saw a letter from Bob, she didn’t let Betty Lou know right away.  She then asked mom if she’d rather look through the new catalog or read the new letter from her beau.  Mom says in the letter, “I could have choked her.”  But she doesn’t, because she is “so nice.”  Now that got me giggling again.

But the rest of the letter is full of the same funny and sweet content.  She uses terms that she did for the rest of her life.  She said that she was gaining a “teeniny” bit of weight.  She was glad of that because she had lost weight because she was so lonesome.

As you can tell, I really enjoyed seeing these old letters that I had thought destroyed.  They do give a bit of a window back to the time when they were young, in love, and separated by some distance.  I’ll let you read them now, if you have a mind to.

 

Saturday July 5, 1952

 

Hi Baby,

Watcha know?  We are now having/ our first free time from 7 to 9 P.M. I/ sure miss you, cutey.  Our basic is/ only 8 weeks. So maybe around Sept./ Huh, Hon?

If I miss a day or two writing/ don’t be surprised.  You can’t tell/ how long it’ll be until there’s time/ to write another letter.  These ser-/geants are very unpredictable.

Our T. I. (Technical Instructor) is/ O.K.  I will probably get transfered/Into a Band Squadron next/ week.

I’ll hafta close now.  I have/ lots to do.

Be Good

All my love,

Bob

 

Wed. nite 9:30

Hi Honey,

Hows my man tonight./ Thought you said I wouldn’t get/ a letter this morn.  I didn’t/ expect one.  Alma got the mail/ + she just fooled around and/ pretty soon she asked if I’d/ rather look at the new catalog/ or read your letter.  I could/ had choked her.  But I didn’t/ cause I’m so nice, you know.

I sure do like that picture./  Every time I look at it it/ looks more fanciful.  Yummy!

Just got back from an/ ice cream social.  Had a bunch of fun.  Got to see all my old/ gal friends.  Got to tell them/ all about my darling + showed/ them some pictures of you.  We/ really gabbed.  One of the other/ girls has her a Bob too but I/ bet he ain’t as sweet as mine.  (End of page one)

 

(page 2) Didn’t do much today.  Just/ worked.  Hoed this morn + worked/ in the house the rest of the day.

I believe I’m gaining a teeniny/ bit of weight.  It’s about time./  I weighed less that I have in 3 or 4 years.  Everybody thought I looked skinny.  I’ll probably get it back.  I feel better.  I/ believe I was just too lonesome -/ being with the family makes/ it much easier.  anyhow I be/ doing good for myself now.

I reckon that’s all the/ news I can think up.  Guess/ I’ll go to bed.  Sleep tight honey.

Be real good.

I love you, Bob

I’m yours

Betty Lou

(end of letters)

So there you go.  That’s what remains of the long lost love letters.  I can picture my mom being “beside herself” because of what her sister Alma pulled on her.  I’m sure she cursed her out!  Not really, that wasn’t her style.  She probably said something like, “You stinker, you!” and went to her room to read her latest letter.  I’m sure Alma got a good chuckle out of it.  I know I did.  I hope you did too.