I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations  

In the sixth letter of this series, Grandpa returns to Scranton after his first trip back home. He knows that he's not returning the next weekend, which makes him homesick. He's asking about other family members, especially about his sister. 

During the week, he had dinner with Otto at his foreman's house. Grandpa was an avid fisherman, but I doubt that he'd brave the conditions like his foreman did.  My brother and I used to go fishing with him, but all we caught were crayfish. 

I found this picture of Ray and Ann together at what looks to be a park. My grandfather looks like my brother so much in this picture! 

Whereas as some of Grandpa's previous letters seem saccharine, I think this letter speaks the most from the heart. He requests, "You take good care of yourself for me while I take good care of myself for we belong to each other." I like his closing too: "I love you - I love you - I love you."

Scranton Penna.

Jan. 25, 1940

Dearest One: 

I am not coming home this week-end and I am writing this letter with the hope that it will in some way make up for my absence. It is four days since I have seen you and yet it seems more like four weeks to me. That is how very much I miss you and long to be with you and hold you in my arms and kiss and caress you. This coming week-end holds no real pleasure for me as I will not be near to you. However I will be with you in spirit if not in person. 

Last night Otto and I were invited out to dinner at the weaving foremans home. It was here that I had the best meal I have ever eaten in Scranton, but, I would pass up a dozen such meals to share one of yours with you this week-end. The weaving foreman, Mr. Kretch, is to me the calmest and coolest man working here and he is well liked. He and his wife have two well-behaved young boys and a 5 months old baby daughter. His home which he and his wife planned and on which he did alot [sic] of work himself is very nice. When our conversation changed to fishing he told us of his experiences white fishing and invited Otto and I to go with him some time. To give you an idea of what kind of fisherman he is, he went fishing last Saturday while the weather was from about 8 to 12 degrees below zero. 

I hope you are feeling well and have no cold however slight it may be. You take good care of yourself for me while I take good care of myself for we belong to each other. Have you seen my sister or anyone else in the family? If you have tell me about it in your next letter. Give my regards to your mother and Joe, Joe and Ann, and the rest of the folks back home. 

I must close now and though I am not with you I want you to know that - I love you - I love you - I love you. 

Lovinly [sic] yours

"Newt"

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