My Dearest Daughter – Postcards from my Father

In 1958 my mother got married and moved across the country. These are the letters written to her, mainly by her mother, between 1958 and 1960. Others in the series are in my del.icio.us file.

Last week I was looking through more stuff and I found some things written by my father. Daddy was not a prolific writer. I only have a few things that he sent to me as I was growing up. Apparently he didn’t write mom a lot either – which makes me wonder how these two managed to fall in love and get married since they lived in different parts of the country.

My parents met when my father took a vacation and was visiting college campuses. He was a Michigan State and he asked my mom for directions. And that was the beginning of their romance. I still think it’s weird.

Anyway, I only found post cards and never a full letter. Here’s one he sent to her in 1955 when she was still at Michigan State.

Here’s one from 1957 where he called her by his pet name for her, Chata:

By 1958 he is calling her “Dearest.” This one is about a month before the wedding.

I liked this one because it talks about something practical – like how they’re going to move stuff across the country. My mom was always thinking of that sort of thing and my impression of my father is that he never concerned himself with the practicalities of having a wife and a family.

There were about 25 post cards in all.

and this old Valentine from 1958. He signs it “Peter Buster Anthony.” I do remember that she did call him “Buster” affectionately the few times I saw them together. And as it turns out he really was her last Valentine.

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