A St. Valentine Challenge To My Readers

One of my current works in progress is a love story between a sailor fighting in the Vietnam war and the girl he loves back home. It is actually based on actual love letters written by my dad to my mom when he was that sailor who loved his girl half a world away. Reading the letters and writing the story has given me the opportunity to witness the love between my parents, when they young and smitten and know them both as people rather than just my parents. The book has been a work in progress for a long time as I want to tell the story in a way that captures the feelings and emotions they must have shared. Last week I was working on an entry for a writing contest and I came up with a letter that will be the new opening to my love story in progress. I like to imagine that were my father still that young man in undeniable love, he might have written one more letter like this letting my mother know that she was his girl forever. Even now, nearly five years after his passing, I am absolutely certain that she is still his girl.

The letter:

My sweetest Angie,

I drew duty tonight. Four long, lonely hours of walking the ship's deck with nothing but my ever present thoughts of you to keep me company. As I looked up at the millions of stars I couldn't help but wonder if you think of me as often as I do you. Do you see a night sky lit bright by starlight half a world away and miss me half as much as my heart aches for you? This war has taken almost every bit of humanity that I have left- all but the little corner of my heart and soul that I reserve for you my sweet Angie.

No matter what each day brings, you are always in my thoughts. Long silky hair, grey eyes and that smile that does things to my insides I can't begin to describe. Where I used to dream of fast cars and long for the thrill of the win, I now dream only of you in a white dress walking toward me with tears in your eyes… and mine. How I long for warm summer nights and to hold you in my arms once again.

My time here is nearly at an end. The jungles have sapped my strength, the VC have scarred my soul and there are days I nearly forget who I am. And then I look up at the night sky alight with promise and I feel at peace. I am at peace knowing that Vietnam does not hold my heart in its hands, you do my Angie.

I will come home to you. I swear that I will. I may be broken but it is you that will make me whole again. Our spirits are entwined, our lives will soon be one. No matter what the future may hold, always remember that I love you and only you.

Yours forever,

Bobby

 

I look forward to the day that I am able to finish this book. It should be easy, since I already know how it ends but still I struggle, wanting to do justice to one of the greatest loves I know.

In honor of Valentine's Day I would like to challenge each of you to write a love letter to someone you care about. A spouse or significant other, a parent, a child or a best friend. Post it here in the comments if you like. Love comes in many forms and is one of the most basic of human needs.

Why not tell someone they are loved and valued on a day set aside especially for this purpose? Candy, flowers, teddy bears- they are physical expressions of commercial holiday. Words, feelings and thoughts from the heart, those are what we carry with us always.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.