The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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,
Lana and I are sociable, we think, but we are still rather private people. We have a range of friends and acquaintances, some closer to us than others. We attend social events.
A joke we have between us is having the occasional “see and be seen” times. That means eating lunch, or hot fudge sundaes or having coffee on First Street. Calling it “First Street” probably shows our age as many in town call it by the name by which it is currently known of Main Street.
There we sit and watch the mainstream of Benicia’s life either walk or drive by. That street is the “main drag” and many of us have “dragged Main” during the years. A standing rule we have at our home is if a vehicle of ours leaves our property for any reason, a “drag of Main” is included unless, for some specific reason, it is decided we shouldn’t do it.
At times we see former classmates, but their numbers have dwindled over the years as some sought other places to live or their lives ended.
We see the skateboarders, the individuals or couples walking their dogs, the business person intent on fulfilling the needs they must fulfill, and the couple casually walking down the street as we often do.
Often as we sit, either indoors or out, we have conversations with people from out of town. I guess we have “Benicia” written on our faces since we must appear to know the answer to any question they might ask. In fact, most of the time, we do. If we don’t, we usually give them good enough information to discover for themselves the answers they seek.
Maybe we just want others to know that we’re still alive and we want to know that Benicia is still alive. Lana and I have each seen much of what the world has to offer and chose to make Benicia our home. There is a lot of positive to be said for this small town by the Straits. There is some negative, also, but any place has that.
Long ago, Lana and I purchased burial plots in the public cemetery. They are near many relatives and others we have known. At the time I think some thought we were a little weird or macabre. We weren’t, we just plan ahead to make things easier. The plots face the water about halfway up a nice slope. It’s a good view.
There is love of a time and place, as Lana and I share for Benicia. None of it can be truly understood, I believe, without the love of another. For me that other is Lana, and for her that love is me. I was blessed and honored that Lana chose to love me. I was lucky to have her to love in return.
Ian

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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