The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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

Dear Mr. Garrett,
As we all know times change, even here in Benicia. In general one thing which never changes is the love grandparents hold for their grandchildren. Nowadays I often read or hear about grandparents raising their grandchildren. That upsets me, but I’m happy the children at least have the grandparents to raise them since, for whatever reason, their parents aren’t around to do it. Drugs, crime, and lack of pride led to all of that I believe.
There was a time when grandparents’ raising their grandchildren was rare in Benicia and probably everywhere else in the country. When it happened, it was usually because of a tragedy occurring to the parents and thus the family.
Sometimes it happens that parents don’t want their children to be around the children’s grandparents. I can only guess the parents don’t want their children influenced in any way by the grandparents. That is sadness all around.
The majority of grandparents I’ve known have been great. They spoil their grandchildren in every way they can. They give time and gifts to grandchildren they might not have been able to give to their own children though they would have liked to. They walk the grandchildren to and from school and give so much of that precious time only grandparents can give children.
It is especially nice to listen to grandparents when they speak of their grandchildren. There is usually a smile while they speak and a twinkle in their eyes.
As the grandchildren grow, their experiences, triumphs, and tragedies are relayed to anyone to whom the grandparent can gain as a listener. Sometimes, I’m sure the listener has heard the story before but listens attentively for the words of pride which come from the grandparent.
Often sadness comes when the grandparents pass early in the lives of the grandchildren and without the grandchildren really knowing them.
Sometimes that passing comes late enough in life for the grandchildren to gain knowledge of Granny and Gramps. All the stages of life to the time of the passing of the grandparents will be recalled. Memories of the aroma of Granny’s perfume and Gramps’ aftershave will be held in the mind of youth. Those same youth will look back and remember sitting on Granny’s lap and eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk as she reads a favorite story. They will remember Gramps tossing them the ball for the first time and watching them at their first Little League practice. They will recall the warm days in the park riding the teeter-totter with Granny and being pushed in the swing by Gramps. Fond stories of what they did those weekends and summer days spent at the grandparents will be spoken of.
Time does what it does. One day they will be the grandparents who are remembered. I wish happiness to all of them.
Anthony

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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