The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”.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,
Often I see you and your wife walking. That is so cute. Amos, my husband, and I used to walk. God took him to be with Him two years ago. I see Amos and me in you and Roberta when you walk by.
I know you two don’t walk the same route every time and don’t walk at the same time every day. I know because I’ve watched for each of you. When I don’t see you, I know you are either taking another route, or are busy doing something else, or just aren’t walking that day.
Amos and I had favorite routes we used to take. As the years passed our routes became predicated on two things: time of day and where we knew restrooms were located. It came to be we couldn’t walk before breakfast or a couple hours after breakfast. Our best times were about 11:00 am or 2:00 pm. We discovered the bathrooms at the Benicia Public Library, those at the end of the spit off Main Street, those at the Capitol building, and those at Safeway. Believe me they were all handy once or twice.
I like the way you and Roberta look when you walk by. At times one or the other is talking. At other times you each appear to be held in your own thoughts, and at still other times you are each looking from side-to-side which can only be for viewing sights your eyes and memories bring to mind. I so envy each of you, but there was a time when those moments were shared by my husband and me.
I live near St. Dominic’s Church. I often attend services there and think of Amos. We passed by the church many times on our walks, especially in the evenings. When I see there is a wedding being performed, I think of when Amos and I got married, hitched he always said, in that church. When I see a funeral being conducted, I think of Amos resting in front of me at his services.
Hearing the children play brings me special joy. The sound of children at play has always been a pleasant and welcome sound.
My son took me for a ride the other day during his monthly visit. So much has changed over the years. We saw that “Bottle Hill” will have homes built on it. That seems strange. It seemed just as strange years ago when the salt flats were transformed into the mobile home park. Many of my friends live there now. A joke I’ve heard more than one of them say is the area where they live is a “holding pattern” for the Passalacqua Funeral Home. Many of us have attended a lot of services there as well as at St. Dominic’s.
I envy you and Roberta your walks. Please know that when you pass my home eyes filled with loving memories follow you.
Inez

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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