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 27th letters in the Grandpa's Love Letters series, Grandpa discusses the plans for their upcoming nuptials--which is only a month away. They need to find a new, furnished apartment in Scranton, buy a gift for their friends getting married, figure out how many people are attending, send out the invites, and get Grandma's ring.
"Ann" is written on the back. This was taken out of a scrapbook so I date it to be around the mid-1930s.
The jeweler's name is Ernie, underlined and in quotes, which makes it sound like it's an alias! I have both Grandma's engagement ring, a 14K white gold band with a small pearl, and a simple 14K white gold wedding band. I'm wearing them as I write this!
***
5/15/40
Scr. Pa.
Dearest Ann:
We arrived here at 7.30 o'clock Standard time on Monday morning. The trip took 3 hours and 10 minutes. The car will have to be adjusted before long. Every time I put on the brakes the car swerves to the left hand side, and the carburetor isn't what it should be. Yesterday evening, I had one of the springs repaired. It seems that I did not go any to [sic] soon as it was just about ready to fall apart.
Fred and I both received invitations to Otto and Jean's wedding yesterday.
I found out that the rates for furnished apartments are very high. Otto gave me this information from experience.
It has (been) definitely settled that I am to work no more than 42 hours per week at the very most. I hope I can do all I am supposed to do in 40 hours so as I will not have to go in on Saturday mornings when I do not want to.
When I received Otto's invitation, it reminded me that we will have to have ours printed soon, but before we can do that we will have to figure out how many we will need. It also reminded me of their wedding gift. Do you think we will have time to look for one on Saturday afternoon or night? There are a number of other things I will have to do before it is too late. I definitely must see "Ernie" about your ring this weekend. If I am able to quit work at 5.00 o'clock each night as the other office help does I may be able to find some rooms for us two.
I must close now so until Saturday afternoon you will have to be satisfied with the words "I love you" and paper kisses XXX etc. instead of the real thing.
I remain as ever
"Your lover"
Ray
***
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