It was the greatest thing

That title is a quote from Hunter and Chase's Procrastination Rap that they laugh at because as you can tell it was improv and many of the lines didn't rhyme.

Well, I have been going through a bunch of old letters I have saved from many years ago and got this great idea to write a few excerpts from some of them.

This one is from a letter Grandmother Hunter wrote to me in October of 1983. I had been married for about 6 months.

She wrote: (October '83)
"How sweet of you to say such nice things about getting old. Actually it doesn't bother me that I am getting older. In fact I sort of welcome it. For a long time, it was a very irritating fact to me that someone was always making a comment such as 'You don't look old enough to have a 12 year old son!' Or, 'You look young enough to be her sister.' And I got the feeling that I must look like a very raw, inexperienced girl who didn't have brains enough to have children, much less look after them and train them. So I looked forward to the day when I 'looked' old enough to be a mother, then a grandmother and now a great grandmother. Now they say 'Oh you don't look like a great grandmother!' So I am getting the same old tune! However, no matter how I look, I know I have brains enough to do a good job with my children (just look at your mother!) and they are brainy enough to do a good job with my grandchildren (just look at you!),
and they are clever enough to do a good job with my great grandchildren (just look at Bonnie!) so I look them straight in the eye and say, 'Well I am and proud of it!"

And here is one from Mom: (August '83)
"How do you like my one-armed typing....I had to go back to the doctor yesterday and he put a cast on my arm. Yes, a full cast....Tag is cutting the grass by himself to earn money. It is so hot that he must cut only during early morn hours or late evening but he is doing well. I can hear him out there now. whoops, the mower stalled and here he comes to get cooled off. Bless it!"

And from Tag: (November '82, although when you read this one you'll think it should have been written about the same time as mom's above)
"How ya doin'? I am soooooooo sooooorry I haven't written yet. How's Asheville? Have you sold my train table yet? I'm reading The Jungle Book. It's very interesting. Did you know I'm mowing lawns now? I've earned $16 so far.....How's Lee? have you gotten to the green belt in karate yet? I can't wait till you do....What do you want for Intercalary? I hope we can all get together for it. Here's my plans: Me, Mary, Dad, Mom, You, Lee, Bonnie, Jeff and Andy, get together, go to Disney world, then come home and open presents! It might cost $110, but we can all chip in! I don't know why, but I don't have much more to say. I love you and I guess I'll go now."

And from Mary: (December '82)
"Hi! Sorry I haven't written in a long time....I'm trying to write fast. (I know you read fast.) What's the weather like up there? It is hot down here. I really don't have much to say....Do you have a green belt in karate yet? What comes after it? How are you and Lee doing? I don't have any boyfriends. No guys like me. I wish they did....What do you want for Intercalary? I'll give it to you when you come down....I hope Lee can come, too....Well, I guess I'll go now. I love you and miss you a lot. Tell Lee I love him, too." S. W. A. B. K.

And here is an excerpt from one of Bonnie's letters: (August '84)
"The other day I made tuna fish for Andy and he said 'Put salad in it like Aunt Lynn does.' I think salad means celery, but I didn't have any so I put pickles and it suited him fine. Then today I made some and didn't put pickles and he wouldn't eat it until I put salad in it like Aunt Lynn's. Also we went in the grocery store and he just started saying 'Uncle Lee and Aunt Lynn' over and over again."

And from 3 letters of Willy Light:
Letter 1) Lynn, How's it goin babe!? I miss you lots! this is just a quick note to say hi! and let you know I've been thinking 'bout you. How's Bonnie and hubby and the new coming addition. Sorry I didn't make it to the wedding, I know it had to be beautiful for Bonnie is.....
Letter 2) I'm living at Carolina beach working at a waterslide...we have a nice place on the beach. I'm real happy. the beach is beautiful. so what's happenin in Candler how's Bonnie and her kid write me please and let me know. I miss you a lot and please take care. I'm always thinkin bout you.....
Letter or birthday card 3) Tell all hello especially Bonnie and Andy. Have a wonderful 20th birthday. I did. Thinking of you always....
Letter 4 was a hholiday card addressed on the inside to Tag, Mary, Bonnie, Fran and Wayne---not me interestingly) I miss all of you. Especially Bonnie. I love all of you.

I don't know what order those letters came because they are not dated or in postmarked envelopes.

And I even have a letter from Grandaddy Eury:
Dear Lee and Lynn, I am going to try to write you a few lines this morning to say I am sorry I haven't written sooner (does anyone else see a theme in some of these letters?). We had a real nice time with you Thanksgiving. ......Boy another good ol turkey dinner would be good. Guess I'll have a hot dog for lunch and make like it is turkey.

And from Aunt Anne:
Dear Lynn, I thought you might be interested in placing some of your art work in my shop. I'm really impressed with your work and who knows--I might be able to help you make some money with it. Hope to see you and Lee soon. Come and visit if you can.

Anyway, I just thought that was some fun.

Hope you did, too.