I love: Pops.

This is a two parter - one part today: My Mum's view of my Dad.  Second part tomorrow: my view!

I met Bob the summer before I started college. I fell instantly in love - and I mean INSTANTLY. I went over to Poppa's to ask if my friends and I could use Poppa's giant back lawn to play football. Bob was there visiting from Brown. He didn't say anything to me because he was busy wolfing down a burger and a coke and getting ready to beat Jim on the tennis court. He didn't even offer to play football with us!! 

In spite of this rejection (how dare he!) I mentally developed a plan that would have us dating by the end of the summer. It worked. This simple plan involved a yellow bikini and lying out on the dock and other innocent stuff. 

Anyway, in the fall, when we went to our different colleges, I had many doubts about this 'new summer love of mine'. But then we started to write letters to each other (these were the dark ages remember - no cell phones invented and internet wasn't even a blip on the radar). So this letter from your Dad is one of many that I've saved that I don't mind sharing at all!

It may be hard to read I'm typing it out. Bob swears this is the first and probably the last stab at poetry he will ever write... oh the loss to humanity!
____________________________________________________

(circa 1976)

have your jokes been funny

your days sunny

if you don't ask why

you'll never learn to fly

how's your dad's leg

have they taken out the peg?

say hello to your brothers

and of course your mother

don't forget Sandy

she's a real dandy!

I'd turn red

forgetting old Fred*

but to Jenn** the most

she's the one to toast

soon I hope

love love Bob

p.s. a better letter later

* Fred was Mom's dog. 

**Jenn - Mom spells her name "Jen" - but Dad never listened, and spelled it wrong every time!