The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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,
Blessings on you and yours.
A flood of tears is held back by a fragile dam of thought. Someday that dam will break. More-and-more the signs of fracture appear. There is so much love and love lost through death I’ve seen in Benicia. Too many funeral services, too many heartbroken people have met my eyes. Simply thinking of things now brings tears to my eyes. Often the tears come in response to thinking of someone I never met or never will meet. That good family who tried so hard, the young man whose life changed in a heartbeat, the child whom fate decreed would not become an adult, touch my heart and thus my eyes. Perhaps in some small way unknown to anyone except God, my tears in isolation or public will help alleviate some degree of pain and suffering.
I know nothing on this earth lasts forever. That is the wish of the God in whom I believe. What I now call mine will one day belong to others. That is fine with me and is as it should be. I hope whoever touches what I once held appreciates and honors it whatever the “it” might be.
We each have those we hold dear.
From living here over 60 years I definitely am in the small group of “old Benicians.” So many of those we shared love for and with have moved on to a better place: our parents, our teachers, our coaches, some friends of youth, some friends of a later time, the craftsman, the businessman, and the children of some we knew as children.
The circle continues and life goes on. The house on the corner has seen three families call it home. I know the man who built it as the only home his family would share before time and growth brought change.
The house where the “empty nesters” lived their last years together has been renovated and another family makes memories there. Each set of loving parents produced three children. The first had two sons and a daughter and the other has two daughters and a son. Children walk the same sidewalk from the front door to the curb which others walked before them.
Each unseen footprint is a step into the future while maintaining contact with the past. So much of that contact is based on love.
It is so beautiful the sadness of it brings tears and the joy of it brings tears.
Amos

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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