The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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.
Mr. Garrett,
From reading words you’ve written I believe you will understand.
I love my wife, Martha, as I could never love anyone else. She gets the best I have to give in everything. We are a retired couple and we live in Benicia.
Some people just don’t understand when I tell them I don’t care what Martha and I do. I mean if she wants to go to dinner or lunch, watch a movie, go antiquing, or whatever I don’t care.
At a restaurant we usually order the same type food and beverage. Often the wait people say we are easy to serve, and we are.
I don’t care if Martha wants to buy something for her, me, us, or our home. She knows what we can afford. Also, we each know that we can afford or do anything we want whenever we want.
I don’t care what color the room is painted, but I’ll willingly paint it. I don’t care what we eat as long as it is dead or at least moving slowly. I admit there has been one or two times in our married life when I told her, “We don’t need to have that dish again any time soon.”
A couple times a year I tell Martha I would like to see a certain movie, or go to lunch, or get a hot fudge sundae. Other than those times I don’t care what we do as long as I’m with her. If it makes her happy to do whatever she wants to do, that is fine with me.
Martha and I are comfortable with each other. I enjoy being with her and she enjoys being with me. We have never argued about money, sex, politics, or relatives. Those are four areas I know many people do argue about.
We’ve been together for almost 50 years. As any old married couple we have our own way of doing things, jokes between just us, code words and songs which send instant messages to either of us, and decades of memories we share.
I sincerely doubt I am a wimp. Martha knows if I really want to do or not do something that is how it will be. I admit I am stubborn.
Martha has never tried to force any decision about anything. I’ve told her so many times over the years “I don’t care” about what we do or where we go. She knows there is no problem. If we go somewhere, she knows she has to get me fed along the way. Other than that all she has to do is tell me where to go and what to carry.
Life is simple in woman/man relationships I think. If the two like each other, enjoy the company of each other, and care for each other, what they do, where they do it, how they do it, and why they do it doesn’t matter. Each will look out for the interest of the other. Neither will be pushy nor try to dominate. It’s easy for me to say “I don’t care” what we do.
Setha

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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