Past History

I had occasion yesterday to clean out my bedroom closet. There were some shoe boxes there with a lot of past corresspondence. The first envelope I saw was addressed to "James R." I know immediately who that was from. Only one person has ever addressed me in that way. Probably from my addressing her as "Harriet C." I first knew this lovely young lady in College as "Harriet". Her family called her "Betty" since there was a grandmother (Mom) called "Harriet". When we were married I suggested that Clarkson was to good a name to lose completely so instead of Betty her legal name should be "Harriet C. Taylor". We weren't into hyphens back in 1949. Any way, the letter to James R. was a birthday card in October 1980 when I was still in the hospital from my second heart by-pass surgery. This sweet thing had written on the card: "To my next to new Husband from his old wife: and signed it Betty which she scratched out and wrote "Harriet."

Among the keepsakes were several letters addressed to Betty Clarkson from various guys who were in the military during WW II. One of them had the temerity to address her as, "Dear Sweetheart". Another talked about what a great gal she was. She did do her part during the war by keeping in touch with the military. I've seen these letters before so it was no big deal. The picture is from 1943 so one can easily see how guys might be enamored by such beauty. I'm glad she matured and saved all that for me. And is it any wonder that I still miss her.