Letters

Letters he wrote to Gram:

September 26, 1994

Eddie,
One of the problems that I’m having is that I don’t get to come home and tell you about the things that have happened during the day. Remember, we always did that for each other. Starting now I’m going to put into writing what I would have told you on a daily basis. I know you can’t answer back and encourage me the way you always did, but I think it may help me.


September 27, 1994

Today it rained almost all day but I still went grocery shopping. I also mailed the check to Blue Cross. During the morning I went in the cedar closet and went through your clothes and brought them in the house. You don’t need them and some of them Debbie can use. I am sure that would be what you wanted since Maggie doesn’t want them. What Debbie doesn’t want she will give to the Goodwill or something. It has been three months since you left me and I miss you more than I can express but I’m doing what we promised each other. It isn’t easy but I’ll do it for us. Talk to you tomorrow!


September 28, 1994

The days go by slowly. I took the car to the VW place to get the heater fixed that we postponed for six months. A squirrel had built a nest in the heater so we were lucky we took it now before winter. I also got my new glasses today. I really needed them. Now they tell me my cataracts have become so bad that I should have an operation. Maybe some day soon… All the people are leaving for Florida, only a few left. Soon we will have our place back the way we like it. I’m going to Mario and Janice’s tonight for dinner. I’ll talk to you later.



October 1998

Dear Eddie,
Back again to tell you some more things I have been doing. Hank and I have been looking for a place to have coffee in the morning for three years now but I we lucked out when we came upon the BEACON DINER. Not the one that you and I went to in Hometown, but one here in Lehighton.
We tried Bowmanstown, the bakery in Palmerton, the railroad station in Weisport and a place on First Street that wasn’t bad but they closed soon after we went there, so H talked me into going to the “443” even though I didn’t want go there because it seemed too crowded. I was wrong again and glad he liked it because you know he will go anywhere that he has an audience…

The reason I am taking time to tell you all of this is because there are many nice people that I have met there including the customers but mostly the staff:

Mary, a young women who can out talk Hank or anyone else (a real nice girl).
Debbie, Mary’s daughter, who seems to run the place. A ravishing girl but all business, my instincts tell me not to oppose her…
Marsha, my favorite. Served me corn muffin once and I has a diabetic attack. Of course, it had nothing to do with her but she still won’t serve me any food. She writes little notes on the back of the check, like, enjoy the snow…
Julie, a cashier who is always busy. She like everyone there is always cleaning something…
Marg, the “dancing girl” always smells so good…
Penny, “always needs more hours”
Kenny, stays up all night to keep the place clean, and will not open in the morning unless “Big Ben” strikes six.

BTW they have a sandwich called Piccadilly that’s great.......
This brings me to the real boss and the owner. Her name is Chris and you would love her Eddie. Like you she smokes a cigar occasionally. When she smiles she lights-up the room. Dark hair, beautiful teeth and eyes that are large, dark and “exciting”

Saw all the people at the diner today. Very cold this morning, but the kids are okay....... Hank and I went to the diner for coffee

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My everlasting love to you Eddie,
Tom


[Chris, The part crossed out is a little personal to allow young eyes see… T]



July 1999

My dear Eddie,
I want to tell you about my birthday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!