The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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.

Mr. Garrett,
I have a philosophy on love which includes giving deference to someone you love. By that I mean being respectful, courteous, and polite. It is all intertwined. Through the years I’ve seen it expressed many times around the world, but mostly here in Benicia. I’ve seen it mostly here in Benicia because this is where I settled down after my military career. It is the place I’ve lived for the longest consecutive number of years in my life. I see some of what people who have lived here for decades see in this town.
My military service time was spent mostly in a male dominated culture. That is how it was then. Things didn’t start to change heavily until I was approaching the end of my career. The change was all for the better. It makes our military better and our country stronger so we can all sleep better.
I was taught by parents and teachers to share and try to get along and always do your duty. The military augmented those teachings and expanded upon them. I’ve adhered to those precepts the best I could. When I trained young men in the military, I passed them on as I did with the children Sherry and I share. Not everyone got the message or got it to the degree in which it was delivered, but the effort was there. What happened after that was on them. I learned early on in my military time if rules, regulations, and procedures aren’t followed men often get hurt or killed. The same applies to different levels and degrees in interpersonal relationships. One of those relationships is love.
Sharing the last of the water in the canteen or the last lima bean in the C-Ration is simply the correct thing to do. You may be thirsty or hungry, but you don’t show it. Relieving a buddy and telling him to take a break because it had been a rough time is simply the correct thing to do. Maybe it was because you were the one who was a little more experienced and maybe a little stronger at that time. Or maybe you were just a little more stubborn, but what you did was done out of love for your buddy. The tighter you become with your buddy the more you come to love him. If you are like me, you won’t always get along with him, you might even fight, but it is all part of the love you have for your buddy. I’ve helped place the body of a man I loved in a bag and carry him out.
The feeling of love is greater between two who are in love and live together, I think. The deference and application are the same. If the time comes when you and she, here I’m relating to my wife Sherry, and there are only two pieces of chicken for our meal she gets the best piece. If there is only one piece of chicken, that piece of chicken is hers. That is simply how it is as part of my duty, honor, and love for my lady. Part of my duty and the honor which is mine for having the love of my lady is to take care of my lady the best way I can in everything.
My head is now bald, partly because of nature and partly because of a razor. My body aches 24/7 because I was too physical, wet, cold, hot, and tired for too long and I’m wearing out. What won’t wear out is the love I hold for the girl from Benicia who chose to be my wife and hung in there with me until we could make our permanent home here.
Kirk

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.

Sharing is caring!