Stone Diaries, The - Carol Shields [88]
Affectionately, J.
Ottawa, February 7, 1957
Dear Mrs. Flett, Thanks for your kind words about the cactus illustrations. I think, not to pat myself on the back too much, that our readers really went for them, it kind of jazzes up the page. And as for covering the column while you’re in New Orleans, it would be a pleasure. I’m always glad to pitch in. A person can get pretty sick of writing about local elections and school board hassles.
Sincerely, Pinky Fulham Ottawa, June 30, 1957
Dear Mrs. Green Thumb, Loved "Getting Tough With Phlox." I’ve clipped it out for my files, and bought an extra copy for my sister-in-law in Calgary who’ll get a real kick out of it.
Sincerely, Rose Henning, a timid-but-determined-gardenerin-training Hanover, College, September 19, 1957
It’s so noisy in the dorm I can’t think, but wanted to let you know I’m settled in and surviving. Great weather down here. Great news about Beverly doing the commerce course, she’ll do great.
Love to all, especially Vicky.
Warren P.S. You said postcards were okay.
Ottawawawa, December 2, 1958
O dear mrs green, my dear mrs thumb how i love you love you for your goodness your greenness your thumb-readiness your watering can your fertilizer pellets and o how i love rustling these limp pages and finding you there always there between stamps and bridge between recipes and religion there forever there with your greenness your kindness and o last week with your dampened cloth wiping clean the green green leaves shining and polishing o so gently and opening the green pores to the air it was like washing the hands of a little child you said dear mrs greenthumb o if i could only be your child scrubbed clean and pure to light and goodness i too would be happy i too would need nothing and o how i love you need you sweet keen clean mrs green thumb Anon Bloomington, Indiana, January 15, 1958
Daze—you’re going to kill me, but I can’t make Florida in Feb.
Guess why—I’m getting married. Yep, married! Hope you’re still standing up and breathing. Beans says I’ve misplaced my brains, but I think you’ll like Mel. He’s a lab instructor, divorced, nice hair, sings baritone in a barber shop quartet, that says it all. So instead of soaking up the sun in Florida, why don’t you get yourself down here to Indiana for the wedding. It’s gonna be a five-minute quickie in court, no fancy dress, but the biggest party you ever saw afterwards.
Buckets of champagne. Oceans.
Love, Fraidy
Bloomington, Indiana, January 17, 1958
Just a scribble. You’ve just gotta come for THE WEDDING, and then we two old maids (toi et moi) can head down south for a week in Florida. (Fraidy says you’ve got over your fear of airplanes.) I need some gee-dee sunshine. Hope Mel works out for Fraidy, he’s sweet but has already had TWO divorces!!!
Beans Ottawa, March 4, 1958
Dear D., Wonderful piece on palms, "The Mystery Tree," and we’ve had a great response to Pinky’s drawings too.
Wondered if you would care to see a performance of Tea and Sympathy. I’ve been given two tickets for March 15th.
J.
Ottawa, June 2, 1958
Dear Mrs. Green Thumb, Your tribute to geraniums touched the middle of my heart. These sturdy, stout-hearted darlings have kept me company for the fifty years of my married life, sitting on the window sill and cheering me on while I peeled the supper spuds. My hubby was one of those who could not conceive of supper without potatoes on the plate. Well, now I’m in what they call a retirement home, Sunset Manor if you can believe it, so no more paring knife duty, but I still have my window sill full of bright little beauties. Like you, I like to rub the dead flowers between my fingers and smell the fragrance, only I never told anyone I did such a thing, it sounded so crazy.
Sincerely, Mrs. Alice W. Keefer
Ottawa, April 27, 1959
Dear Dee, Thank you so much for inviting me to Easter dinner. What a handsome family you’re blessed