{"id":13,"date":"2014-06-06T17:51:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-06T17:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suchlittletime.ca\/?page_id=13"},"modified":"2021-05-26T16:41:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T16:41:17","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/suchlittletime.ca\/index.php\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five Star<\/strong> rating on Amazon.com!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Such<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Charming Letters. Loved every one!\u201d \u2013 Diann L Donnell, Amazon.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreat Book!\u201d \u2013 Amazon Reviewer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a delightful collection of letters! Everyone will be moved to remember what true love is. I highly recommend this book!\u201d  \u2014 Mary Grimley, Songwriter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loving another human being is a\u00a0courageous act, it makes you vulnerable and holds in it the possibility of being hurt with a pain that runs so deep few can honestly talk about it outside of music, fiction and verse; to stay the course, through thick and thin, is nothing short of heroic. When anyone manages to make that commonly held, and so rarely realized, dream come true through their efforts, courage and devotion creates a story worth sharing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUCH LITTLE TIME: A COLLECTION OF LOVE LETTERS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Thomas Merton<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLove consists of this: two solitudes that meet, protect and greet each other. \u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Rainer Maria Rilke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREWORD<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Colin Frizzell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I set out to write the introduction to these letters I went to the library to research 1963: the civil rights movement in the United States, the election of a new Liberal government in Canada after a non-confidence vote against Diefenbaker\u2019s Conservatives over nuclear weapons, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) had yet to form in Northern Ireland, but the FLQ (Front de lib\u00e9ration du Qu\u00e9bec) were active in Quebec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was going to talk about how people had faith in being able to change the world and hope for a better future. Kennedy was in the White House, the Beatles had released their first album (Please, Please Me<\/em>), Lawrence of Arabia<\/em> was at the Oscars, Bond was at the box office, television was sending its first images by satellite and Martin Luther King made hisI have a dream <\/em>speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, this story isn\u2019t about that. This story is about a simpler dream. A dream which is shared by everyone and that, it seems, you have to give up on in order to find; once you find it, you have to take a leap of blind faith to have it and give it everything you\u2019ve got to keep it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It began, as I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve surmised, in 1963\u2014August to be exact. Peggy Strain was a 35 year-old Irish schoolteacher who had been single for the ten years since her first marriage was annulled\u2014her faith in men had been dissolved with her vows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was on vacation with her mother, Elizabeth (Lily). After having visited Lily\u2019s brother, Bill, his wife, Florrie, and their family, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they went to Prince Edward Country, Ontario, to visit Lily\u2019s cousin, Martha, or Mrs. Jarvis as she is referred to with proper respect in the letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in Canada they were staying with Mrs. Jarvis\u2019s son, Jack, his wife Grace, and daughters, Jeanne and Janice. Peggy had been over for visits before and those visits were greatly welcomed, especially by Janice who just loved her \u201cAunt\u201d Peggy. Janice also very much loved her Uncle Art, her mother\u2019s brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art was a bit of a rogue and, at 40 years old, a confirmed bachelor. The youngest in a family of four, he had stayed on the farm to look after his mom, but he did so more out of obligation than a love of the land. His real love was people and he surrounded himself with them constantly and enjoyed the odd drink, for it helped keep the party and conversation flowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art was foot-loose and fancy free, as the saying goes, and he was quite happy to be that way. So, when his niece got her mother, Art\u2019s sister, Grace, involved in setting him up with some strange Irishwoman that he\u2019d never met, well, he wasn\u2019t too keen. And Peggy, she went along with it as much to be a gracious guest as anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was to be a dance at the Lake-on-the-Mountain<\/em> hall, which was owned and operated by Art\u2019s older brother Hugh, and his wife Bernice. Art\u2019s oldest brother, George, and his wife, Betty, were also going to be there. Grace would bring Peggy. Art would come with his brothers. But Art, having never meet Peggy, decided that she wouldn\u2019t be his \u201ctype\u201d and went into town to have a few drinks with, \u201cthe boys\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few hours, Peggy was none too amused with this Canadian hospitality. Meanwhile, Art was getting pretty bored with town and decided to head home. Since Lake-on-the-Mountain <\/em>was on his way he saw no harm in stopping by\u2014this was when the small town country boy first learned of an Irish temper. He was instantly captivated and, though she didn\u2019t show it, so was she.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four days later they got engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The catch was that Peggy had to go back to Ireland and stay there for eight months before she could return. The extra little wrinkle was that Peggy didn\u2019t own a phone so the only way they could communicate was through letters. They wrote each other faithfully and often. Their obstacles became our treasures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the story of Art and Peggy. It\u2019s a tale of what all stories worth telling are about: love. Not just any kind of love, but a love which blooms in almost the first moment your eyes meet and lasts until your last breath and beyond. I grew up knowing this story but never appreciating its wonder, its rarity, and the courage that they both had in order to bring it to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite knowing the story, while reading the letters I still found myself wondering what the outcome would be, if they\u2019d get together, if it would last, what was going to happen? Even though there are only seven of the seventy odd letters Art wrote\u2014because of a pact that they both made and that Art, fortunately, broke and Peggy only partially held\u2014the story still comes across. It not only shows the love and the longing that they had for each other at the time, but it echoes the longing that would return nearly four decades later when they were once again torn apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letters didn\u2019t just keep my attention; they also kept me calling my fianc\u00e9e\u2014who was 200 kilometres away at the time\u2014and telling her how much I loved her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My own marriage not working out has only made me appreciate this love story allthe more. I understand, now, just how much care, work, and mutual devotion a loving marriage takes to survive\u2014and how rare that truly is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope that you not only enjoy these letters as much as I do, but that you get as much from them\u2014and more. That you squeeze your loved one\u2019s hand just a little harder or give them an extra goodnight kiss. Most of all I hope you find the courage to do what is the bravest thing anyone one can do: give yourself, fully, to another, without losing who you are, while letting them be, fully, who they are\u2014as Dad demanded in one of his letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lasting love isn\u2019t for the fickle or the faint of heart.
1d Bracken Way
Rushpark
Newtownabbey
Co.Antrim
N. Ireland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21 August 1963<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Art,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find it hard to believe that so many miles are separating us when it is such a short time since we were together. How I would just love to be able to call up and hear your voice\u2014you see I miss you already. Yesterday morning in Picton I moved into mother\u2019s bed as I felt cold (thermostat not working again) and when I woke up I felt something touching my back. For one wonderful moment I thought that we were married and that you were there beside me. Art, I do love you so. Ireland doesn\u2019t seem home to me any more because you are not here. It is true when they say home is where the heart is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had a very pleasant flight back and other than waking up to eat supper and breakfast I slept most of the way. We were only 8 3\/4hours in the air but when we landed at Belfast airport we had to remain on the plane for another hour as Customs and Immigration lounges were so busy. However, even so, we were back at the flat before 8 a.m.  We\u2019ve had breakfast and Mother has gone to lie down as she did not sleep last night at all and very little the previous night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t remember if I thanked your mother for giving us such a wonderful engagement party. If not will you give her my thanks now.  I will treasure the memories of that important day all my life, together with the happiness I feel. I hope that you feel the same way, too. I wonder when we will be together again? I hope it is soon as I feel I will be impatient with any delay for moments we are apart seem wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have so many thoughts in my head, but I am finding difficulty in putting them down on paper, so I hope that you understand all that I am trying to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather here is cool and breezy just as I thought it would be. The sky is overcast and I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if there was some rain. What a change from the beautiful weather we left in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will write again at the beginning of next week when I find out the details about how long I\u2019ll have to work. Of course, this doesn\u2019t mean that you are not to write until after you receive my next letter. I am waiting eagerly to hearing from you, so please write very soon. By the way I\u2019m still known here as Mrs. Peggy Strain\u2014but not for long I hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All my love forever<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday Aug. 25\/63
RR#4
Picton
Ont.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Darling Peggy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I received your wonderful letter yesterday morning. I can\u2019t tell you how happy I am to know that nothing has changed. I sometimes think it must have been just a wonderful dream. I guess I\u2019ll not really believe it\u2019s true until I hold you in my arms again. I love you very much and think of you constantly. If you feel as strongly as I do I am wondering how you can concentrate on your school work. My work on the farm requires very little concentration, it\u2019s work I have done so much I can just do it more or less automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well honey I\u2019m late again as usual. It is 12 o\u2019clock Sunday night. I went church to-night and after church Betty and George and the boys came over. We had a lunch and have been visiting. They just left so I thought I had better write you to-night so I could send it by to-morrow\u2019s mail. I only hope this letter means as much to you as your letter meant to me. I took quite a razzing at church to-night, but I find I rather enjoyed it. Cressy is still recovering from the shock of its No.1 bachelor getting engaged. However, I am sure when they meet you they will understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been very little going on around here since you left. How I wished last night that you could be here to go to the dance with me, but since you were not I had no desire to go, so I watched television. My darling I am so anxious to know how soon you will be able to come back to me, I miss you so much. I do hope it will be soon. The Cressy people are all very anxious for you to get back too. I don\u2019t know whether they are thinking of our happiness or just want to have a party. There has been no marriage in Cressy for a couple of years and the natives are bubbling with anticipation. Betty got your address from me to-night. She wants to be able to inform you if I misbehave, but you know she doesn\u2019t have to worry about that. Maybe she doesn\u2019t realize the effect a love like ours can have on a wayward bachelor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like you Peggy there were many things I wanted to say, but since starting to write I can\u2019t seem to bring them out. However since we both feel the same I guess it\u2019s not necessary because we both know without saying. I do love you very much and Long for your safe return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been trying to make some plans for our future, but I can do nothing without you. Sometimes things work out better if there are not too many plans made in advance, so I am just waiting until you are with me again. The weather has been very nice here lately and I wish you could be here to share it. To-morrow I will be picking tomatoes. I am sure then I will think of a thousand things that I wanted to tell you but right now it is like when we were together, I can only think of how much I love you. When I put the ring on your finger I would love, liked very much to have made a pretty speech and told you what was in my heart but the lump in my throat wouldn\u2019t let me have said much even if I could have thought of it. I am sure you understand Peggy Darling. Well Peggy I guess this will have to do for now. I will try to do better next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write soon. I love you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S. I suppose I\u2019ll have to address this as you instructed but I hate to think of you as Mrs. anybody. Except Mrs. Art Frizzell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love and Kisses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Such Little Time: A Collection of Love Letters Five Star rating on Amazon.com! “Charming Letters. Loved every one!\u201d \u2013 Diann L Donnell, Amazon.com \u201cGreat Book!\u201d \u2013 Amazon Reviewer \u201cWhat a delightful collection of letters! Everyone will be moved to remember what true love is. I highly recommend this book!\u201d  \u2014 Mary Grimley, Songwriter Loving another human being … <\/p>\n

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