The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Hello Jim,
If we are lucky we have a father figure in our lives and it is our biological father. If we are luckier still we have that father and some other father figures. One of my father figures was Barney Corrigan. I know he was one of yours, also.
When I saw your ad for this book, I started thinking of what I loved about my short time in Benicia. There was a girl I loved hot and heavy when I was a senior but that ended with graduation.
For some reason I felt the need to write a letter for your book. For awhile I couldn’t think why I wanted to write the letter or who or what I wanted to write about. Then it dawned on me that as I aged I looked back and finally understood I loved Barney Corrigan. That man of Irish extraction was an institution at Benicia High School when I was there and remained that way from everything I’ve heard over the years.
I was something of an in-between guy in football. I wasn’t the fastest of foot and only weighed about 175 as a senior. That being the case I was placed as a lineman on offense and defense. I started on offense and defense so I was good enough.
The linemen, as you know, were under the direction of Barney. Every practice, at least it seemed to happen at every practice, we linemen pushed the two-man sled down the field on the visitors sideline and back. Early in the season he taught all the linemen basic techniques and to block anyone with the wrong color jersey who got in your way.
I think he was a guard in his playing days and loved it and, like every coach, tended consciously or subconsciously to insure time was given to his love while keeping ahead of the learning curve and pushing us.
I loved all that partly because he made it enjoyable. It wasn’t work. It was all part of learning the game of football. It was all part of being around Barney, Coach Corrigan, Mr. Corrigan, ‘ol Barn, for those short hours in my youth.
You and I talked once of a guy we also each love who got upset at something someone said at a dinner party at the Corrigans and left. A couple nights ago he and I talked about that night. I don’t know what brought the subject up, but it happened. He told me he always felt regret at getting upset and leaving because he loved Barney and Frances.
We each know there are people who will always love Barney. The guy and his wife Frances loved us. It was simply their nature.
He was such a pillar for so many of us growing up and later when we had families. Christmas cards from him and Frances were always looked forward to and he wrote in every one sent to us.
My wife and I have been to a lot of funerals in town and the gatherings afterwards, either at a home or a hall, and Barney was always there. Sometimes he was with Frances and sometimes he was alone, but he was always there. After Frances passed he was still always there. I’ve been told he visited her resting place every day until he was laid to rest to lie at her side. What a beautiful expression of love in Benicia.
After his beloved Frances passed I was standing next to you two. He looked directly at you and said, “My wife championed you.” You later told me you would never forget his words. I’ve never forgotten them either.
Maybe this isn’t the type of letter about love in Benicia in any form that you were looking for. If it isn’t, you won’t include it in your book. I think it is what you want. I think you know and love, as do I, the Benicia we have and have had.
There were others like Barney whom many of us have and do know. I think a person could look at Barney and know that he cared, as we know others care. He undoubtedly had his moments to the left and right of center, but he loved all of us with whom he participated in life. His memory remains in death. Yesterday my wife and I visited the graves of Barney and Frances Corrigan. It was a nostalgic time.
Longtime Benician

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love”, “The Mansion Stories”, “Chief Salt”, and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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