“Letters from Mom”

Mom wrote me hundreds of letters and would often send me greeting cards with snipped comics or articles from newspapers or magazines she thought I'd enjoy.

truckMom wrote me this letter after I’d come home from college for a weekend visit. I don’t regret not getting a class ring and don’t even remember particularly wanting one very much. I do remember that R/C 4×4, though.

11/7/91
Hey, guy!

Have I told you enough times how thrilled and happy and warm and fuzzy I was when you walked in Friday night? I think we had a good weekend – and we really needed one. Thank you for that, Love.

Of course, by the time you left, I had a major cold. Second one in a month. I guess I better get some Flintstones. I took two days off, and that’s all I had left of sick days for the year.

When I got home from work yesterday, Jenny had cut the front lawn just because she figured it looked bad. I think she’s really excited about getting a job and her grades being so good. She wants a class ring. You never really made a big deal about it. I feel bad now, wondering if I missed something. You have always been so generous and giving about stuff like that – believe it or not, I really remember how you never argued about your paycheck going to house – ever. God, you don’t have any idea how much it hurt to see you working so hard and getting so little in return. (Except maybe the satisfaction that comes with giving and doing something worthwhile.) Don’t get me wrong; I think working is usually good for you. But, it’s also good to see some fruit of your labor. I guess that’s why you got the car, even if it really did cripple us financially.

Heck of a paragraph. I’m not making any sense, am I? I just, I want you to know how much I love you and how good I really think you are.

I talked to your dad about getting the ring. Girls’ rings cost less, so we’re gonna go for it as her Christmas gift. Please tell me how you feel about that. Please. I’ve tried always to give you all I could (sometimes more). Did you not make a big deal about a ring because you knew we couldn’t afford it? Did you really want one? Please tell me.

I will never forget the day at the flea market when you sold your radio-controlled pickup for $5.00. I think my heart broke for you that day. God, I love you, David.

I really love you,
Mom