As the Train Pulled Out of the Station
Today’s blog entry is a little different—a guest blog of sorts, although when this “blog” was written, the author knew nothing of blogging, the Internet, or even computers. The blogger? My mom. The date? Tuesday, September 13, 1949. I hope she won’t mind me sharing it here.
A little background on both the source and the circumstance. . . . Both of my parents are gone now—Mom died in 2010, Daddy in 2012. They had been married 63 years when Mom died. Mom’s broken hip and Daddy’s stroke had sent them to an assisted living/memory care center in 2009. My sister and I opted to keep their house until after Daddy had passed away, but we started the arduous process of cleaning out the contents of the house after they moved to the assisted living center.
So many treasures we discovered! But the best by far were the collections of letters. My mom wrote letters much as I write emails—they were a way of letting the words in her head and heart flow through her fingers. She always said that she would “think with her fingers”—me, too. Maybe I got that from her?
The first “find” was a box of neatly organized file folders, labeled in six month increments starting in 1950 and going forward for decades. These were letters Mom had written (some typed, some long-hand) nearly every day to my grandmother, detailing the events of the day—her journal of sorts. Apparently, my grandmother had kept these letters, and when my mom was cleaning out my grandparents’ home, she found them and put them all in chronological order and filed them neatly.
Another box had three bundles of letters still in their envelopes, tied with string. One bundle had the letters from my grandmother in response to many of those letters. And the other two bundles had letters from Mom to Daddy, and Daddy to Mom, starting in 1949 with the letter that follows.
In late 1949, Mom was pregnant with my sister, and Daddy, having finished his Master’s Degree at the University of Georgia, had gone ahead to the University of Virginia to work on his doctorate. My grandparents lived in there in Athens, Georgia, (home of UGA), and so Mom opted to stay with them for the three or so months until my sister would be born before going and joining my dad.
This letter is the first one she wrote the day after he left for Virginia.
Tuesday, Sept. 13th
My Darling,
It seems like you have been gone six months already. I had the emptiest feeling as the train pulled out of the station last night. I was sorry I was such a cry-baby but I guess you knew that would happen.
I hope you had a good trip and were able to sleep on the train all night. Did you have to use your blanket? I hope you had a double seat so you could stretch out all night.
I hope you had all your baggage on hand when you arrived. I have been afraid that you might not have enough cover if it is as chilly there as it is here.
Mama said to tell you that it was all right about you not kissing her good-bye last night. I was afraid you were going to jump on the train without kissing me.
I am anxious to hear about your work and everything so I’ll expect a detailed report. I do hope you will like everything fine, darling. I’m not worried about people not liking you because they’ll just have to like you when they find out how sweet you are. If anyone doesn’t think so, just refer them to me.
Daddy asked me at dinner if you had come back yet.
Darling, this is a rambling note. I can’t think much today—I’m sort of out of practice writing to my best beau—but give me time.
Be good, sweetheart, and remember that I love you more than anything. “Junior” is kicking—I guess he wants me to send his love also.
Till later then—I love you. (I mean we love you.)
Nita and Junior
Read Daddy’s reply to her here.
© Melissa Clark Vickers 2014
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January 25th, 2014 at 9:02 am
How poignant! Their love is so evident and so wonderful. And it is wonderful that you have a written record, as well.
January 26th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
What a couple they were! Your mother certainly missed him and parting was hard. It’s so affirming to witness their deep love.
December 18th, 2016 at 8:30 am
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