Letter #8: 6/21/20
Stories of A Lifetime Presents: “The Letters”
Community correspondence sparked from the isolating 2020 pandemic focused on easing the burden of loneliness.
Hello, my name is Holly. I am 40 years old and a single mom of a 9-year old boy named Easton. His father, Brian, passed away from cancer two years ago. I enjoy writing, I love history, and I like being a helpful, involved community member. I keep thinking about my grandma, and if she were alive today how lonely she would be because of this pandemic. I know receiving a letter would turn her day around. It wouldn’t matter if the writing was profound or merely about what I ate for dinner. Knowing someone cared to communicate would bring instant joy. So, my friend, I’d like to write some letters to you. I know they will help me feel useful and less lonely. I hope these letters are helpful to you and that they spark you to reminisce about your own life, love, and good times.
June 21st, 2020
Dear Friend,
Today is Father’s Day. Are you a father or father figure? Well, Happy Father’s Day to you, my friend!
Do you have any good Father’s Day stories? What are some of your family traditions? A cookout or picnic? Do you have a big family gathering or something small?
I can’t say that we have an actual tradition for Father’s Day in my family. We always recognize it in some way, but every year is a different situation. Father’s Day usually has it so much better than Mother’s Day as far as nice weather. The dads are so lucky!
It was a beautiful day today. Were you able to get outside at all? My son and my friend and I went out on his boat. We had a wonderful day out on the water. We cruised around and went and had lunch at a dockside bar and grill. We swam and threw a football around in the water. It was a fun day for us.
When we were putting the boat back on the trailer the arm part on the trailer where the crank is- the part that the bow attaches to with a chain and then gets cranked up to secure it- well, that part of the trailer ripped clean off! I’ve never seen that happen before. It’s a steel trailer and it ripped right off. It’s always something with a boat. We absolutely love boating, but wow is it a lot of work. Folks may think it’s just all fun in the sun, but my friend, Marc, sure puts a lot of work into his boat on a regular basis for us to enjoy those fun in the sun moments.
Did you or your family ever have a boat? Do you enjoy swimming in a lake or fishing? I’d like to hear about it. You can write back to me if you’d like.
I’d like to share a prayer for Father’s Day with you:
“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way. Gracious God, bless fathers and all father figures with such love and faithfulness that children flourish and grow in uprightness and joy. Bless those who miss their fathers, those who long to be fathers, and those for whom this day is difficult. Amen.”
With love,
Holly
If you’d like to write back to me, you are very welcome to.
I will get a PO Box soon and let you know what that is. For now, maybe someone could help you scan and email your letters back to me at Holly@StoriesofALifetimeLLC.com. Otherwise, maybe you’ll find it helpful to just journal your thoughts and write them down without sending them. You do what is helpful to you, friend.
Conversation Starters:
Are you a father or father figure? Do you have any good Father’s Day stories? What are some of your family traditions? Did you or your family ever have a boat? Do you enjoy swimming in a lake or fishing?