Thursday, January 9, 2014

Letters from the past


I have not one sentimental gene in my body. If something has no use, it is gone.
I don't keep old cards or letters. But........

When my Mother passed away, I found boxes of every single letter and card she ever received.  In that box I found this letter written to me by my Mother's Father Sept. 18, 1944 and I brought it home and it  is still in my possession. It like myself, is almost 70 years old.


I don't expect you to read the whole letter, but the yellow parts are the funniest to me. My mother was born and raised here where I live now, she married Daddy and moved to Savannah. Back then it was a 12 hour drive or 10 hour train ride.


Palmetto, Florida Sept 18, 1944 (hand written in pencil)
Albert S. Overby

Hello, Darling Sandra
How’s my newest sweetheart? I just received your letter and was glad to hear from you and about your looks and sweetness. Well you have a good looking dad and the sweetness comes from your mama. She was the sweetest and best baby that was ever born.

Now darling, I really would love to see you but I think that it will be better for me to stay here and work and just as soon as you and your mama are well enough, you all can come to spend awhile with me. I will take you everywhere and show you how “God’s Country looks.

Sandy, since you have come to your Mama and Papa, here is hoping that you can persuade them to move down here. Now try this even if you have to cry a little.

Sorry sweetheart, I haven’t sent you a thing. I just didn't know what to buy, so I am sending you a check. 

Get your mama to get your dad to get it cashed and get you something and with the balance tell your mama to by her something for her birthday.


Aunt Pat is at school. Great Granny is taking a nap. They both are mighty proud of you. In fact you are all they talk about.
Well, I’ll close for this time and be sure and make your mama take good care of you also herself and hurry and get strong enough to come see us.

Bye Now, mostest of love, Grand Pop (I called him grand daddy)

Note: it seems Grand Daddy was saying mother could not cash the check, so my Daddy would have to get it cashed for her.... 1944 to 2014 and we have come a long way baby.

35 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

I LOVE this!!! Being me, anything I find that pertains to any ancestor [I worked 25 years on our two families' genealogy and had it finally published a couple of years ago]...you have a cherished item here. And I most certainly enjoyed reading it ALL.

Thanks for the compliment on my sketch today. You mentioned that you'd like to see more of my works...I've shared several of them in my blog, and there is a drop down menu on my left sidebar...where the easel is...click on "my art work menu" arrow.

Have a great Thursday Sandra.

Unknown said...

It's nice to have that old letter :)

Unknown said...

It's nice to have that old letter :)

Muffy's Marks said...

What a treasured memory. And a testimony of how things were. Thank you Gloria S.!!!

RoeH said...

You are so lucky. Please do not throw away those letters. They are history at its best. I have found about a 150 old letters that I have saved onto a private blog so they will be kept. I treasure them.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed you sharing this. What a treasure.

TexWisGirl said...

a sweet possession, for sure.

Amy Burzese said...

What a sweet thing to have. You are fortunate. Thanks for sharing with us.

Kathy said...

This is a real heirloom! So glad you've kept it. I too am one to toss rather than save.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Sandra, thanks for sharing this bit of your family. Like you, I only like to save old photos or anything pertaining to family background.

Inger said...

What a precious letter to have.

George said...

I think it's neat that you still have this letter.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I would say that letter is a keeper.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

We have come a long way.....
Love the letter and I'm glad you have held on to it. I on the other hand hold on to everything!

Marie said...

I keep most cards and letters. :)
Enjoyed your letter. :)

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Sandra, perhaps it was the generation...Joe's Mom passed away in June and she too had cards, letters saved from all of is. We have a box of pix to go through over the Winter...love what she wrote...how adorable and a keeper for sure!...:)JP

My Mind's Eye said...

Hilarious about the check. Granddaddy was a man of his time. Oh dear if he could see Mad Snapper now he'd be proud of her progress.
Hugs C

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Love this SO much... I am very sentimental ---and love all of the memories and things I still have from my ancestors...

As you know, I love Genealogy --so this letter would be extremely important to me. I'm so glad you kept it.

Hugs,
Betsy

Betsy Banks Adams said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Oh Sandra, what a treasure!!

Anonymous said...

This is a real heirloom.

I was born in 1942.

Susannah said...

What sweet memories of the past!!!! He sounds like a wonderful man and loved you very much. I think they all did. I am glad you saved this letter. I am sure it means a lot to you now.

Rose said...

Oh, Sandra, what a precious...letter.

Betty Manousos said...

what a sweet, precious thing to have, sandra! i'm glad you've kept it.

Miss Debbie said...

I love this, Sandra! So glad you found it. What a sweet granddaddy you had!

Ann said...

That is a real treasure. I remember writing very long letters to my grandmother when I was little but I don't recall ever getting any from her and I know for certain my grandfather didn't write letters to me

Dee said...

What a wonderful treasure...thank you for sharing it....this is what will be missed by this generation.

SquirrelQueen said...

What a wonderful letter, it's good to see you have kept it. It is a great memory of days gone by.

I'm like Anni, anything like this I hang onto since it could give me more information on an ancestor. I have added letters to my family trees pages.


Unknown said...

Lol. I am the same way. I throw everything out.

Deb said...

I am a sentimental sap I save everything....what a treasure...

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I think I'm a sentimental old fool because I save so much. Your letter is definitely a keepsake. How sweet your grand daddy sounds!

Ramakrishnan said...

You have preserved this letter for 70 years ! It is a relic;it is a collectors item now !

diane b said...

I'm glad you didn't throw that away. It is a great piece of history and your life.

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

those are good memories to have and to hold. I like your new header. Trying to do some catching up. whew...

LC said...

Definitely a keeper. So full of love!