James M. Garrett, a graduate of Benicia High School’s Class of 1961 and fomer longtime teacher, is the author of “One Great Season 9-0!” (Photo courtesy of James Garrett)

The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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,
I’m a 63 year old woman who has had many of life’s experiences and deeply enjoys love stories. I discovered “Benicia and Letters of Love” while browsing on my computer looking for titles of love stories which would intrigue me. When I saw the title of your book I immediately opened up the site and read of your writing. Moments later I purchased the book online.
While reading “Benicia and Letters of Love” I fell in love with the book. As I sat in my living room or lay in my bed reading I was there in that small town named Benicia. I was with those “Benicia people” written of, though I have never set foot in the town. From your words I hold a love for Benicia, not as strong as many, but still a love. I live in a small town not too far from Dallas, but the letters in your book could have been from, and about, many of the people I know, and have known, down through the years.
Some of the letters touched me so: her love handed her his glasses before the fight between him and their son and some other men; the two lovers who buried the bottle containing their statements of love in the sandy beach; the woman reminiscing about her son playing baseball; the couple who met at the antique shop and had ice cream; and the dog named Duke jumped out at me. They are all such true expressions of love.
My husband, Carlos, once defended me outside a restaurant. The other guy was just a guy and a bully, not a man. I guess he thought he could get away with being rude to an older man. Carlos was, and is, a man and has never been a bully. For years I had told him to just walk away if anything ever happened. That didn’t work with him in our earlier years together. In the middle years it mellowed out some. After what happened outside the restaurant, he told me he just couldn’t help himself.
That same man and I also buried, actually planted, many things together. The first time was right after we bought our first home. Time moved us more than once over the years. What we planted was a sapling. I bet that sapling grew to be a fine tree.
Each of the two sons Carlos and I had grew the same as I’m sure that tree grew. Our sons love football almost as much as they love family, God, and country. They have demonstrated each of those loves many times.
Love bloomed between one of our local young men and a woman who had driven out from Dallas for some relaxing time. I don’t know if they went to an antique store and ate ice cream, but they got married.
When I was a child we had a dog, named JoJo. She was a black Labrador and the sweetest, most affectionate, combination friend, companion, protector, and citizen anyone could want.
So you see Jim, I can relate to each of those in the small town of Benicia of whom you wrote.
You did well, my friend. I feel I can call you friend though we will probably never meet, because of the words you wrote which are now so dear to my heart. Perhaps, though, we will meet in another way, through the words in another of your books.
Thank you,
Loretta

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 entitled “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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