The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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

Letter 4
Tunnel of Love

Mr. Garrett,
We don’t live too far apart. In a way, a connection point between us is the tunnel which goes under the freeway. That place has been a smelly, stinking mess many times, and the graffiti which has shown up on it is a disgrace. The tunnel didn’t used to be vandalized and dirty. If my wife and I were raising kids now, we wouldn’t let them walk through the tunnel. It is just a trap for some kid when bullies are around. I fear for any youngster or woman who walks through that tunnel. It is just a matter of time until some criminal element hurts or kills someone because of what is open to them do to that tunnel.
To a degree, that tunnel used to be a “tunnel of love.” I walked the girl, Catherine, who would later become my wife, home after our first date. We shared our first kiss about halfway through that tunnel. The next night we kissed many times on the front porch of her home in the Highlands before I went home.
For nostalgia, I guess, my wife and I drove around the east side of town and the Highlands the other afternoon. We parked on St. Augustine Drive. We each had friends who lived on that same hill decades ago when a government housing project was located there. From there we walked around a few blocks reminiscing about who lived where and what became of them. Then we walked to the tunnel, perhaps to renew old memories. I know the City of Benicia comes by and cleans it from time-to-time, but on that day the tunnel was a disgrace.
Still, we have our memories of our first walk together through that tunnel and our first kiss and the many walks and kisses which have followed in many other places around Benicia. Those walks became fewer as we got older and I got my first car, but the kisses became more numerous. As the circle of life has come around, we are back to walking more and more around this small town where we have lived for so long.
What a different time and place Benicia was when Catherine and I shared that first kiss, than it is now. In some ways it will always have been better than now, and in others ways it would have been nice if we had then some of what is taken for granted today.
Perhaps my wife and I never would have had a second date if it had not been for that walk through that tunnel. I don’t think so, though, and neither does she. The eyes in my head may see only what is in front of them, but the eyes in my mind still see the young girl who moved by my side on that first walk.
John

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.

Sharing is caring!