A Package in Today's Mail

Ultimately, I hope that people will enjoy each and every story that I write. It is why I write them. 

Well, today, I received the ultimate fan letter.

I have no idea who this person is. The package arrived by air mail, and had a customs declaration via Great Britain. 

Inside there were two hard cover books. One is Love Letters of the Great War. The other one is a blank diary/journal. There was also a beautiful gold envelope, a brown rubber egg, and a gold pin of a B-17 airplane. 

Diary of a Romance Fan was written on the front of the envelope.

To say I was intrigued by all that is an understatement, as is to say I was sincerely touched when I opened the envelope and began to read.

11^th of November, 2018

Dear Diary,

I simply must write to you about the most marvelous and perfect love story I have ever read! It’s called Diary of a War Bride by Lauri Robinson…

The letter continues for three pages, where the writer says, “I have read so many romance stories, but Diary of a War Bride is a sparkling galaxy all on its own. Let me explain why.”  The letter continues about how much she enjoyed the characters, Dale and Kathryn, and their story, and why, and what her favorite ‘lovely special moments’ where, which all led to her falling head over heals in love with the book. She states she can still see Dale and Kathryn, years later, older, grayer, still holding hands, still teasing each other, and still madly in love.

The final page of the letter says:

Today is Armistice Day, dear Diary, and is a particularly significant one as it is the centenary of the end of the first World War. I have my edition of First World War Poetry beside me, and watched Vera Brittian’s Testament of Youth. But I also have an assortment of what seems like odd items but aren’t once I explain.

An anthology of love letters from soldiers of WW1 to their sweethearts.

A brand-new diary to be filled with new adventures and journeys.

Dale and Katheryn’s story was set in World War 2, where we saw the American B-17, so this little plane is for remembrance.

And finally, Dale and Kathryn were awfully clumsy around eggs. Really careless. So here’s one that won’t break, even if Kathryn gets really cross and squeezes them into Dale’s hands again. But he won’t mind. It’s what brought them together.

Yours truly,

Louise.

I was standing in the kitchen, a bit teary-eyed having just finished reading the letter when my husband walked in. 

Frowning, he asked, “What’s wrong? What’s that?” 

I held up the letter and stated it was the most beautiful letter I’ve ever read.

It was.

Nothing in my writing career will every top the very special package I received today. And nothing will ever motivate me to keep writing like that little gold B-17 pin and that rubber egg.