Letters from Dad
Some of the letters sent to Patricia Cummings from her father, when she lived in Spain. 1972-1973
Patricia Grace 1973
A quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that very well suits my late father, John E. Grace,(1911-1974):
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime.
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
***
Dad in a NY hotel room, waiting to see me off on the plane to Spain. 1972
I remember my Dad best for his sense of humor, as shown in the following letters from home. Note: Additional information for understanding is included within parentheses.
Scene above the Central Plateau coming into Madrid, Spain
Letter #1
September 9, 1972
Buenos días, Señorita Pat,
Uno semana: (Dad did not speak Spanish).
Mon. - return from Recompense campground
Tues. - back to credit union work ... gads ...
Wed. - back to work, read your letter, dug 27 globe arborvitae (in the tree nursery), read you letter again, watched TV Olympics from Germany
Thurs.- back to work, directors meeting in the evening
Fri. - back to work, dinner out in Hampton, held hands with your mama at the beach
Sat. - brought junk to Howard (at the town dump) who was so grateful that he told me again what a nice girl Patty was, tried to fix washing machine, brought your mama shopping at Jordan Marsh, scared the cat good with the saxophone, watch Olympics TV, beans & hamburger, more TV ... Really a whirling dervish of inactivity. Sometimes, I feel my pulse for reassurance.
We are full of questions about español classes, language barriers, money supply, etc.
Mucho amor,
Love to you, pop
My father loved growing plants!
Letter #2 (Note: E.E.U.U. is how mail is addressed to U.S. destinations).
September 22, 1972
Dear Patricia Belleza
A letter from Deerfield, E.E.U.U.
Because I'm adding to my collection of things unknown, I let the old imagination go to work and this gives me limited choice as follows:
E.E.U.U.?
Empire of
Elated &
Unrestrained
Umpires
or
Elegant
Example of
Underarm
Undercoating
But instead of working my intellect always, I sometimes let dreams do the interpreting. Like the last night dream of the grape vine growing so much that it was preparing to jump South Road and swallow up the Furber's silly grapevine. So, today, sure enough, I looked at my toenails and they had grown too long. See how the association of ideas work. It started with a call from "Anna M.," asking for the grapes yesterday.
There is no intent to make the Spaniards jealous of my mastery of the Language so I'll make only occasional reference.
You have to remind your old girl that it is customary to cut off the hand of anyone who touches the possessions of another. All civilized countries do this, so you are used to seeing this done.
Glad that playing guitar is providing a good group acceptance as culled from your letter of 9-17. ...
con cariño y abrazos,
your elderly papa
Typical Saturday night fare in New England - baked beans and brown bread
Letter #3
Black Cats are definitely No-No
Friday 10-13
Dear Patricia,
Once in a while something comes along that is not really distrubing except only in a mild sort of way. For example like drinking a cup of brewed coffee down to the last drop but then finding some coffee grounds upsetting the taste buds in the mouth or example #2 - like putting on the last pair of clean socks - only one has a hole where it fits down over your big toe. you see, nothing very vexing, but in the category of wondering what the letters E.E.U.U. that you add to your mail stand for.
Congratulations on your A achievement. The other kids are just dum-dums. Feel lofty.
The double bed idea is a mixed bag of worms. We had both forgotten just how much room two derrieres need when back-to-back. The edge of each side of the bed is getting the wear and tear from the dug-in positions. The blankets are completely bewildered, not knowing where to go to please everyone.
The long awaited property reappraisal is now done, with ours being raised ... Wild, wild, wild. I feel like making little noises at the appraisers.
Looking at the world globe here in the living room, I was surprised to note that Pamplona is almost on the same latitude as Deerfield, being 1º southerly.
I'll save our Concord grapes for you to make wine with when you come home. Would the walnuts add anything?
If you borrowed your neighbors harmonica for a time he would not have it to play. That would freak him into silence. (My neighbor in Pamplona, in the adjacent apartment, played "Home on the Range," at all hours of the night).
The nearest Spanish word for Landlady in my dictionary is 'propietaria.' If I pronounced this word to her, she would pour hot olive-oil on my beard. - Dad
***
There is no place like New England in autumn
Friday, Oct. 27
Hi Patricia - The Lone Ranger writes again.
Cómo está Usted?
We are now having frosty nights and mornings with the Old Farmers Almanac projecting snow for November 7. We shall see what happens. It's probably a hoax. Daylight saving time ends tomorrow night and Sunday we will be back on Standard time. Such excitement. Almost as thrilling as watching a minnow fish in a water tank.
Just to liven things up, a hornet is flying around the living room and the phone is ringing ... Well, it was my sister, May, asking us to dinner Monday evening - oops, phone ringing again ... That was the repeat the invitation and including the bringing along the saxophone, and if we like lamb? ---
By this time, we have not one but two very dead hornets. Time for your mama to come out from behind closed kitchen door. Coast is clear.
Do you have any winged friends in Pamplona? The kind that bite and fly away? Playful like, we grow them here the year around.
Your letters raise or provoke more questions that can be easily answered. For example, does the university have a football team, do sweater girls also go to the bars for a "pincho"? Does anyone know how to make a snowman? Do they hang up stockings for Christmas? ...
(Note: a "pincho" is a "tapa" = These are various appetizers served at all of the bars in Spain, a common gathering point for the locals and students alike).
Your mama is waiting for your Spanish recipes. At least I think so because she selected a jar of Ferretti's imported España olive oil. I was a little afraid that she might try it in her next Apple Pie. But better than that, those fried octopus tidbits.
(Note: The Ferretti family owned a supermarket in Manchester, NH where my mother bought groceries).
My 'afectuoso señora' is watching television American style (69 commercials to each 10 minutes of kooky viewing) while adoring me at intervals. Your friends sound interesting. Does P.R. have red hair? Is G. smiling and petite? Guess I'll enroll for one semester.
You'll be reading this if it doesn't end up being sent (to my brother). In case of misdirection, please return to sender.
Love, Dad
***
This deer was right in our yard this spring (2009). photo by James Cummings
One last letter to share, out of many others
Saturday 11-18
Hi,
The deer hunting season is to be shortened due to the ground being covered with snow. But most of the hunters still stand by or sit in their autos, out on the road, hoping that a deer will pop out of the tuckerbrush and yell 'here-I-am'
Now, Steve brought me a remarkable book entitled, Psycho-Cybernetics in which this Dr. Maltz, author, states that if we practice confidence, faith in a goal to be reached, cheerfulness toward others, that we as persons, will be a success. Stated simply, we are as we think we are. ...
Your mama thinks I am a character for teasing about her next birthday in February taking her into the "sagging 60s" and out of the "frivolous 50s."
--- What is the name of the space ship you are living on?
For here and now, Adiós with luv,
Pater
***
Related Files:
Granite State Credit Union founder
Copyright 2009. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All rights reserved. pat@quiltersmuse.com