It's called a telegram, and who can remember the last time you saw one?

I found this one while I was going through old pictures, putting together some photos for my mother's 90th birthday next weekend back in our hometown of Clarion, Penna.  None of us live there any more.  My twin brother is in Tampa, my young brother is in California and our children are in South Carolina, Philadelphia, Gettysburg and Orlando. Mom has been retired in Florida for more than 15 years, so going "back home" to Clarion is a sentimental journey for all of us. We will gather with our extended family to celebrate the 9 decades of her life and remember.  

Back to the telegram.  My guess is most of you have never seen one.  It is faded with age and the message is actually printed on small strips of paper which are then glued on the Western Union letterhead.  Long before the days of e-mail and text messages, this was how you would send your "tweet" in short words and abbreviated English. It reads:

Ft. Lawton, Washington, Jan.11 2:49pm

Mrs. JC Harnish, phone care of E. R. Radaker

RD #3 Brookville, Penn.

Darling--arriving this morning.  Will call from Ft. Knox.  

Love--Ves

Ok, so they got the address wrong.  My mother was Mrs. RC Harnish, not JC, but I'll bet she didn't care a bit!  My Dad was on his way home from the war.  He had been in India and China and was now making his way across the country to head back to that small town where his young wife was waiting for him. I can't imagine what it must have felt like to receive it and quite frankly, I can imagine how it has survived all these years.  I can't remember how it ended up in my box of old pictures, but there it is and as I carefully unfolded it, I felt connected to that story.  I understand that my Dad had a standing joke with his war buddies, saying that he was going to come home and start his family with twins--and lo and behold he did! 

Dad is long gone and Mom is now heading toward the century mark.  At the rate she is going, my guess is she will make it, but for their generation and mine, that telegram sort of tells it all.  On this Fourth of July I am grateful for the "Greatest Generation" and glad to be connected to it.  I am thankful for the men and women who voluntarily serve today. And of course, I am awfully glad Dad made it home to start his family with twins! I think Dad would be proud. 

Happy Birthday. Mom...and many more.