Other People's Love Letters

by Bill Shapiro

  Love,

  Natie-pooh

  a.k.a. Nate the priMate

  (return to the letter)

  In writing anything to you, I always end up frustrated with the results. One reason for that is because I don’t like my writing (or pretty much anything else about myself for that matter), and the other reason is a bit more complicated. I could sit here and write an entire novel about my love for you but it would never be able to fully express how I feel. Describing my love for you is like trying to explain why snow is white. They are both unchangable facts of life that cannot be argued. I have a hard time remembering if there was ever a time I didn’t love you. And you know what, maybe I always did love you, even before we met. I was always in search of someone like you. Someone that would always love me and not be afraid to tell me that she loved me. Someone who would touch me with soft tenderness that showed to me just how much she loved me. Someone that I could say anything to, and who I actually truly enjoyed talking to. Someone that would make a wonderful, nice, caring, loving mother. I love you ______ and if you ever want to be reminded of that, just look in my eyes. They will always show my love for you …even when you pick at your fingers. :)

  Yours Forever,

  _________

  (return to the letter)

  12/24/2003

  It’s hard to believe that one year ago I never dreamed of the real possibility of us actually being together. I love you so much. When I think of all the events, emotions and trials that we have been through over the last year, it overwhelms me. Still, the constant thought and desire of sharing our lives together has never waned. I do know that we are perfect for each other, and in some way God did mean for us to be together. It’s so unfortunate that possibly His original plan was thwarded by your mother’s desire to control your young adult life. Also, that the lives of our families has been turned upside down. Still, God is able to make good out of the most hurtful times as you well know. I know as we continue to pray for healing, He will do that in the hearts of all those we love. Thank you for giving up your world to come be a part of my world—one that we can share each day by expressing it in ways that we both never thought we could experience—I love you—Merry Christmas

  (return to the letter)

  7/31/02

  I’ve been thinking a lot about our arguments this summer. I thought I should share my thoughts w/ you, since I always advocate complete honesty. We still have quite a lot to learn about each other, especially why, how and what we are thinking. While we aren’t getting along well, I think (and hope) that we are growing more now than we ever have before

  And just to let you know, I still sometimes find myself staring at you and feeling that God could not have crafted a more beautifully sweet angel, and oh how undeserved I am when I hold you.

  I love you,

  _____

  (return to the letter)

  1-19-98

  MLK Day

  Dear ______

  Thank you for your thoughtful letter. It took courage to write that! I appreciate your sharing your thoughts with me, and I hope we can speak more—and face to face. I apologize for not responding sooner, but both work deadlines and my emotions prevented me from doing so until now.

  I am pleased that you feel so deeply for _____ and that you care for her so much. It is not my intention to interfere with your relationship and it’s many dimensions—friendship, romance, companionship—except for one: intimacy. And there, on that one level, I have concern for your choices and actions.

  At the risk of causing you to shut me off, I must be honestly blunt and let you know I think you are both making a huge mistake in the new direction you’ve chosen in your relationship, and I don’t see any good in it. If you truly love _____ you would make it your top priority to protect her and guard her from harm or trouble. Instead you agree to an action that puts her in a very dangerous place—she could be subject to extreme physical and emotional consequences as a result of your actions. She could be subject to disciplinary actions by the school, which would lead to great hurt and embarrasment not only for her but for her Dad and for me. She could be subjected to riducule by her classmates (regardless of what you may think—kids can be just as hypocritical as adults!). Why would you want to put her in such a precarious position? For your decision and actions could easily place her in any of these situations.

  2

  True love always places the other first. If you truly love _____ please put her ahead of your own desires and wishes. Please do what is best for her. That is the mark of a selfless heart. I am not implying that you’ve made this decision on your own—I know you both talked and decided. But I am simply asking you to consider how much danger your actions place on her—much more so than on you (think Biologically here, in particular).

  True love calls for honor, self-sacrifice, and self-denial. Mature love is able to conquer this for the sake of the relationship. Immature love grasps for everything and thus—arms overfull—loses all in the end.

  In your letter you say “I know that you and _____ have a great relationship and I don’t want this situation to blemish it or deny me of having a relationship with you …” If you truly mean what you say, then you will have no trouble doing what I ask of you: STOP. Because if you continue, you will just keep hurting my relationship with _____ more and more—it’s already been painfully blemished by your actions. And if you truly want to have a relationship with me (and I hope you do!) then again, the way to accomplish this is in one word: STOP. Do not continue the action you have taken—GO BACK! Stop and go back. That’s all I ask. If you are able to do this, then I will know that you really do care for _____. If you choose to ignore me, then I will know not to trust you. The decision is yours. I am so hoping to meet and talk with you more about this. I know that probably sounds scary to you! But how else can we understand each other if we don’t speak openly and honestly to each other?

  I hope you don’t mistake my firmness for dislike. I want to like you to understand you. But you must remember one key thing: no one loves _____ more than I do! So I am just very concerned that you will do right by her, that you will honor and care for her.

  I wish you well. I wish you peace. I wish you wisdom and God’s deep grace. Like ripples on a pond when you throw a stone—your actions affect all in it’s path. May your actions be brave and true.

  With affection & respect—

  (return to the letter)

  11 June 69

  My E,

  On the occasion of my being made aware of the birth of our first born, a son, the biggest feeling within me was one of elation. But even more than that is the feeling of thanking God for you. You who make up my whole life, love, and reason to be. Just think, Ellen, we have a son. I love you so much. I’m so lucky to have you for my wife! I love our baby so much. I hope your mother isn’t too disappointed that it wasn’t Sara Beth, maybe next time! You’ll have to forgive me but I’ve been down the O-club for awhile and I’m a bit tipsy but I don’t care because I’m filled with so much for you I could bust. I wish I was with you now. I’m so proud! I passed out cigars and got handshakes and congratulations. Ellen I love you. I’ll write again as soon as I get back on the wagon. Oh how I love you My E. and my son Jack.

  (return to the letter)

  Peter J. Dougherty,

  Chief of Police.

  PALMERTON, PA., Dec. 22nd 1911

  My dearest Lizzie—

  I dont know whether you seen me this morning or not, I saw you by the drug store where you met Miss Weignant. I expect to go to bed this afternoon, So I must write to my Sweetheart first.

  I just received three nice presents from the Kuiblers. I appreciate them very much as I did yours. Tomorrow I will give you your ring, I received it yesterday and had the jeweler’s wife take it to Allentown and have it engraved. So I will be there to put it on your finger tomorrow afternoon, I showed it to the folks here and they think it very pretty, Sallie said if I would give it to her she would be my wife
. But Pete’s love is all for his dear Lizzie, and hopes to make her happy when he gives it to her.

  Well dearest, I told my Mother of our engagement, My Sister had heard it in Palmerton Wednesday when she visited the hospital, She hadnt told my Mother, So I had to break the news. Now they all know it.

  When I said I felt different I didn’t mean that I felt badly about it, I feel happier than ever I dont know just how the weather is going to be tomorrow, if it is like this it would be as well for you to take the 342 on the C.R.R. and go right through arriving at Reading 545. Then we could spend the afternoon at Lamareux’s. We can decide that tomorrow, Then I will not see my sweetheart for some time.

  But my heart goes with her and my love will last no matter how long we are apart.

  (return to the letter)

  Toledo Ohio

  July 28, 1918.

  Mr. H Goldberg

  Your letter on hand and I was certainly surprised after I got through reading it. I surely did not expect to get a letter like that being that we have seen each others only once and then I did not have a chance to speak with you alone. I am sure that our correspondence did not lead up to that. I surely don’t see how you expect me to answer you but being that you say that you want to know if there is hopes, I must say that we all live on hopes, but we must see that our hopes come true. It would be a bad thing if we did not have “hope” with us.

  I don’t know what you have heard of my father’s desire but I am sure that you would think different if you knew him. I surely can’t see what you meant by “answer as soon as possible.” If there is a chance for you were you can get a definite answer at once and I am keeping you back why don’t wait but go ahead. There is a saying “That a bird caught is worth more then a bird in the bush.”

  Trusting that this letter reaches you in the best of health.

  Hoping that I answered as soon as you wanted.

  I remain, as ever,

  Freida ___________

  P.S. The family sends their best regards. Give my best regards to your sister.

  (return to the letter)

  Subj: hola

  Date: 05/05/2008 8:32:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time

  From: _______

  To: _______

  Sweetie, I havent had the chance to write you in a really long time, but I finally have a few minutes today, so I wanted to at least make sure I tell you I love you. I want you to know that I am glad that sometimes we have our little fights, and that it just means that we are being real with each other. That first little bit of a relationship is fun, but it isnt real, sometimes people disagree and they fight, and sometimes they get on each others nerves. My favorite rule of management is that you have to make sure that you are making enough mistakes, otherwise, you just aren’t trying hard enough. That same thing goes for love. I love that you make me want to be a better person, I love that you make me want to try to look better, be smarter, richer, stronger… You inspire me to greatness and to be who I am, and you inspire me to inspire you. Each day, I can feel us getting stronger, going further, understanding m more. I stand behind you in each decision you make, even when I disagree. I see and appreciate allthe great things that you do for me, and I hope you always remember that. I notice every little thing about you. Sometimes that can be annoying I know, but most of the time I am just seeing the way that you look at me, or the way that you go that extra mile to make me happy.

  I guess I should stop writing eventually, or this thing will go on forever, but sweetie, I really love you.

  Te amo

  Hoy

  Manana

  Siempre

  Con todo elcorazon y todo el cuerpo

  (return to the letter)

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Lots and lots of people contributed to this book (see below) but none more so than the amazing Julia Lazarus, Daniel Souweine, and the other superhuman reporters—Teresa Dumain, Betsy Levine, Claire Vath, Kalli Rasbury, Jen Trolio, and Natasha Sarkisian—who corralled their friends, called their exes, and cajoled their currents.

  Thanks to my agent, Brian DeFiore; to Doris Cooper, Lauren Shakely, Laura Palese, and Min Lee at Clarkson Potter; and to Matthew Snyder, Jenny Sucov, Mark Jannot, Maura Fritz, and Bernard Ohanian for all of their smart ideas. And to my family—Sasha, Soren, Mom, Dad, Vicki, Dean, Haim, and Chris, too—who have taught me a thing or two about love.

  Also, my deep gratitude to the hundreds and hundreds of people who searched their closets and hard drives, and shared their most personal possessions … as well as to those who didn’t want to share but still managed to convince their friends to do so. Without you, this book doesn’t exist: Amy Binder, Anna, Linda Permann, Paul Heaston, Barnaby, Jason Kersten, Judy Dutton, Angela Pierce, Molly, Ryan Shipp, Sarah Ballard, DRH, Carin Goldberg, James Biber, Jackie Mitchard, Jason Randel, Beth, Jeffrey Ho, the family of Rebecca and Simon Goldman, Sally Kuhlman, Jeff Nelson, Blankee, Antonia and Joseph Lombardi, Rai, Judith and Jonathan Souweine, Jean Kwon, Ted and Rosalie Goldman, Karen Ginsburg, Jonathan Hutchins, Basha, Peter and Esther Mazen, Erica Smith, Andrew Steele, Phoebe Levine, Kassra Nassiri, Christin Deener, Claire and Herbert Shapiro, John M. Burgess, Philip Dumain, Amanda Spielman, Kristen Costa, Bill Goldman, Inma Pena, Avnish Bhatnagar, Rebecca Lanthorne, Patrick, James Lockwood-Stewart and Barbara Stewart Hoff (children of Donald and Mildred Stewart), Stephen Vath, KellyAnn Kotropoulos, Lt. John William Hulme IV and Ellen Hulme, Nina Malkin, Jason Stutts, Zach and Brooklyn, Bim Ayandele, Roslyn and Gerald Schlenker, Johanna Womer Benjamin, Neill Livingston, Holly Lien, Adam Schroth, Lily Byrne, Pookoos, Nikki and Larry Steen, Jennifer Pisano, Johnny Sobolewski, Justin and Blythe Jonas, Gustavo Vargas, Matt Marrone, John Michael Shimer, Don Aprill, Al Suarez, Peter Levy, Joseph Pierson, Marisa Belger, Jennifer DeLeo, Lois Berson, Philip Goldberg, Donovan and Becky Harris, Kris Mikkelson, Ann Pollack, Ella Luttbeg, Joseph Plastina, Cara R., April L. Rondeau, Nora Woolley, Chris Borris, Chris and Maureen of Baton Rouge, Trina Kaplan, Cynthia Stein, Lauren Wolfe, Zachary Byerly, Alisa Blackwood, Evelyn Martin-Anderson and Leon Anderson, Rick and Cheryl Marland, Daniel Rowles, Lesli and Greg DeMoss, Trudy Remy, Bob Mladinich, Johnathan Player, Ivan and Amy Nanola, JBI International, Monica Dzialo, Kent Wagner, and those who wished to remain nameless (you know who you are). And a special thanks to the wonderful rar rar press.

  Finally, thanks to the following, who graciously permitted me to reprint their cards, designs, and words in these pages:

  CREDITS

  C.1 reprinted with permission.

  Hallmark Cards, Incorporated (Hallmark Licensing, Inc.)

  C.2 reproduced by permission.

  American Greetings Corporation

  © AGC, Inc.

  C.3, C.4, C.5, C.6

  reproduced with permission from

  rar rar press

  www.rarrarpress.com

  C.7 reprinted with permission from GoCARD

  www.Gocard.com

  Roche Laboratories, Inc.

  “Gold,” from WHITE APPLES AND THE TASTE OF STONE: Selected Poems, 1946-2006 by Donald Hall. Copyright © 2006 by Donald Hall. Reprinted by permission Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

  Look for Other People's Rejection Letters at your local bookstore. See a sample here.

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