by Clare Revell
PS. Seven.
Breckenridge. 14th June 2005.
Dear Connie,
Wow. The end of another era with you moving again. Not sure I’d be brave enough to do it alone.
I printed off a photo for you. It’s the Voight Bible Institute. Or will be when it opens in the fall. We have ten students starting. My name plate on my office door says Dr O.S. Voight. Not often I use the title, but as Paul says, I have the doctorate, so may as well use it.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Seven. Are you really that desperate you’re picking random numbers now?
PPS. The kids are taking us to Hawaii for my birthday. They think it’s funny as it’s the big Five-O.
Reading. 12th July 2005.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Happy 50th birthday!
Love Connie.
PS. Silver Fox.
PSS. It is funny.
Breckenridge. 14th July 2005.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Connie,
Happy unbirthday.
Love Oliver.
York. 10th October 2005.
Dear Oliver,
All settled in to the new place. It’s much smaller—just a two bed bungalow, but it’s big enough for just the two of us. Micah is loving college. He’s studying hard already and when he’s not doing homework, or out with his camera, he’s helping Dorcas with the kids.
We live two streets away from them, so that’s nice. Close, but not on top of each other. They have a huge seven seater car, so they give us a lift to church on Sunday mornings. God and I are on speaking terms now, so believe it or not, I rather enjoy the service. And don’t tell anyone, but I have been known to sing hymns whilst cleaning the house. Then I babysit on a Sunday evening so she and Jeff can go to church together.
Paul and Jemma are having another baby in February.
How did the opening of the Bible School go?
Love Connie.
PS. Straus.
PPS. No babies are harmed during the babysitting. Because I don’t actually sit on them.
Breckenridge. 10th December 2005.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
Happy first Christmas in your new house.
Love Oliver.
PS. I hope someone will put your lights up for you.
York. 15th December 2005.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Hope you have all you dream of this Christmas. And a restful one.
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 2nd January 2006.
Dear Connie,
Busy. Busy. Busy. My feet haven’t touched the ground, but in a good way. I’ve had more enquiries for the fall time. And I may need additional staff soon. The Lord is really moving.
You don’t need to put Dr Voight on the letters. Mr does just as well. Patricia says I’ll get a big head unless you and she keep me grounded.
The twins finish high school this year. Anthony already has a place in business school in LA doing finance. Abi wants to study nursing in Chicago. So the nest will be empty here soon.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Straus. Or Silver Fox. (Cheeky!)
York. 4th May 2006.
Dear Oliver,
Paul and Jemma had twins! No one saw that coming. All the scans showed one baby, but the little one, a girl, hid behind her brother all the time. It was touch and go for a while, but she seems stable now. Adam was 5lb 2oz. Eve only 2lb 1oz. Paul will email you a photo or several. I love the way you two keep in touch. All the kids ask after you a lot. You’ve earned the title they give you of Uncle.
And Anthony has a place for the autumn already? Are his grades that good?
Love Connie.
PS. Summer.
Breckenridge. 12th July 2006.
[Birthday card]
Dear Connie,
Anthony is really, really clever. But sly with it. He’d have graduated a year early if he wasn’t determined not to leave Abi behind. He’s talking about changing to a school in Chicago or making Abi go to a nursing school in LA, but she’s stubborn like her mom and won’t change her choice at all.
Did you ever finish that book or send it off?
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Summer.
PPS. Patricia thought that one hilarious.
York. 14th July 2006.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Bit late sending this. Hope it doesn’t get lost or waylaid.
Happy birthday anyway.
Love Connie.
York. 29th August 2006.
Dear Oliver,
I did send the book off and now I have enough rejection slips to paper the bathroom with. Another one came today. Guess it’s not meant to be. Still I might try something totally different. Not force myself to write what people want to read, but the sort of thing I’d like to read.
Clean, wholesome, with a gripping, action packed story line and a happy ending. Where no one jumps into bed on page two with someone they’ve barely said hello to, along with lurid descriptions of who did what and when.
Kind of romance meets thriller. We’ll see.
Paul bought me a computer to type on rather than my trusted typewriter. He said I should work on that and type up the one I wrote in English in Mr Howe’s class. Then expand it and try to get it published.
Again. We’ll see.
Love Connie.
PS. Socrates.
PPS. Am not missing being able to hear the Reading Festival from the house!
Breckenridge. 25th November 2006.
Dear Connie,
Huge Thanksgiving dinner at the Institute this year. We have a few families this semester. So while one partner studies, we have toddle groups, bible studies, prayer meetings and coffee mornings, for the other. It’s predominately men, but we do have one female student.
It’s a community within a community. Which is great.
The Lord is really moving here, and I’m blessed to be a part of it.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Socrates.
York. 30th June 2007.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Another year older, another grey hair…
But you know I’m teasing, right?
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 15th July 2007.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Connie,
Hmm. Someone I know has a big birthday next year. I wonder who that could be.
Happy unbirthday.
Love Oliver.
Chapter Ten
York. 7th October 2007.
Dear Oliver,
Micah has left. He’s gone to Leeds University to do journalism. It’s one of the top five universities in the UK and it isn’t too far away from here. He drives, so that makes it easier. And of course, Zipporah and Jason live there, so he has somewhere to go if he needs a break from student life.
Even though the bungalow is smaller than the house in Reading was, it seems huge now with just me. So much darker at night. So much quieter. So much lonelier. Dorcas says I’ll get used to it. It’s okay for her to say that. She’s got a houseful. Here’s it’s just me.
I’m 49. A widow, alone and no longer needed. So very, very alone.
Love Connie.
PS. Sirius.
PPS. You know someone with a big birthday coming next year? Not me as I don’t do birthdays. But hope they have a good day anyway.
PPPS. You do remember what a bungalow is, right? You haven’t lived away for so long. Well, just in case, it’s a single storey house. And yes, that’s storey, not story. A story is something in a book!
Breckenridge. 7th December 2007.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
Never alone. Remember that. As Jesus is walking right beside us in the darkest times. I could go into full blown pastor mode and quote Jeremiah 29:11, Joshua 1:9, Romans 5:8 and Psalm 91, along w
ith under His wings you will find strength.
Though as I preached on Jeremiah 11:29 last weekend, I should point out that promise follows 70 years in captivity, so probably not the best verse of hope.
So I will go into friend mode, say I’m sorry you’re sad, and ring you.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Sirius.
PPS. Vicky, my half-sister, is getting married in February.
York. 17th December 2007.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Have a great Christmas.
Love Connie.
York. 29th February 2008.
Dear Oliver,
It’s so lovely to chat on the phone each week. Just to hear your voice brightens my day. But I’m not going to stop writing.
Each time I go to the post office, the lovely lady asks if I need an air letter. It’d be easier to buy them in bulk, but I like doing it this way. It gets me out of the house.
Have fun at Vicky’s wedding this weekend.
Love Connie.
PS. Sanford.
Breckenridge. 29th March 2008.
Dear Connie,
Vicky’s wedding was lovely. She asked me to marry them! It wasn’t my first wedding by a long shot, but the first that mattered. It was an honour to marry my little sister to the love of her life. I’ve enclosed some photos.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Sanford.
York. 9th July 2008.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Paul taught me how to back things up on the computer. Are you impressed? They’ve bought me a mobile phone as well. Not that I use it. It’s more of a static phone or a cordless phone at home. All this constant being in touch thing is a bit mad really.
Love Connie.
PS. Not handwriting letters or weekly chats on the landline. That’s different.
PPS. Sorrell.
Breckenridge. 10th July 2008.
[Birthday card.]
Hey Connie,
Have a great 50th birthday! Or are you still refusing to get old and being thirty-twenty this year? And I know I’m sending this early, but trying to get in before you cancel a big birthday like you did ten years ago.
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Sorrell
Breckenridge. August 1, 2008.
[Email from Anthony Voight to Paul Johnson.]
Hi, Paul.
Please could you forward this to your mom or pass on the message?
Mom died last night. She went to bed as normal and when Dad woke to turn her as he usually did at 3am, she was gone. The doc thinks it was a massive heart attack as she slept. Dad’s distraught. We all are.
Anthony.
York. 1st August 2008.
[Sympathy card.]
Dear Oliver,
I am so sorry to hear about Patricia. I cried when Paul told me, and I’m writing this through tears as well. I tried calling but there was no answer. Even though I never met her, I knew her through you and your letters and phone calls.
Love Connie.
York. 12th December 2008.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Thinking of you especially this year.
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 20th December 2008.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
I didn’t know loss could hurt like this. It doesn’t feel like Christmastime. I haven’t decorated as the twins no longer live here. If they want a tree up when they come for dinner on the 25th they can do it.
I appreciate how alone you feel. It’s your weekly phone calls that have kept me going. I have the Lord, of course, and prayer and I feel His presence, but a human voice helps as well.
Love Oliver.
Breckenridge. 11th July 2009.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Connie,
For the first time I feel like an unbirthday as well.
Love Oliver.
York. 17th July 2009.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Don’t suppose you feel like partying this year. So happy unbirthday!
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 12th December 2009.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
Things are a little better now. I’ve adapted I guess. Aside from this huge hole where once my wife resided.
Love Oliver.
York. 16th December 2009.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Isn’t it funny how once we used to have to post these by end of November or thereabouts in order for it to reach you by Christmas. Now we don’t bother and just miss the last post.
Love Connie.
York. 1st January 2010.
Dear Oliver,
I figured I ought to write to you again. I know we have weekly phone calls now, but I always think of things when I ring off and besides, you can’t beat pen and paper. I know you miss Patricia and always will. It’s because you loved her. No one can ever take that away from you and you will see her again one day.
Oh, you’ll never guess what…
Paul suggested I try a publisher in the States who specialised in Christian fiction/romance. They sell on line and on Amazon. He helped with the email stuff and they liked the book and want it. It’s just royalty payments so I’m not ever going to be rich, but it’ll be out there and hopefully people will buy it and enjoy it.
I sold a book.
I’m a published author, or will be when it comes out.
Love Connie.
PS. Sykes.
PPS. Going to keep writing ’til I guess.
Breckenridge. 15th January 2010.
Dear Connie,
Congrats on selling the book. When does it come out? Can I have an autographed copy?
Love Oliver.
PS. Not Sykes.
York. 1st February 2010.
[Wedding invitation.]
Mr and Mrs T Wells invite Mr O Voight to the marriage of their daughter Jenny to Mr Micah Johnson at Leeds registry office, on 10th April 2010.
[Handwritten note from Connie.]
My last child getting married. Now I do feel old. But I guess I am. The book comes out in November.
PS. Stannis.
PPS. Dorcas, Paul, and Zipporah are really pleased Micah upholding tradition and marrying someone whose name starts with J!
Breckenridge. 12th July 2010.
[Birthday card.]
Hey Connie,
Many happy returns!
Love Oliver.
York. 14th July 2010.
[Birthday card.]
Happy birthday Oliver! Here’s a wedding photo for you. I would say more, but since we only spoke on the phone last night, nothing more has happened.
Love Connie.
PS. You never did tell me if Stannis was right.
York. 10th December 2010.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Here’s a signed copy of The Streets of Gold as promised.
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 12th December 2010.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
I’m sorry. No, Stannis is wrong. And I’m serious beginning to doubt you’ll ever work it out. It’s funny you never ask me this on the phone though.
Love Oliver.
York. 1st July 2011.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Happy birthday. Hope the parcel arrives okay. It’s gone by separate post.
Love Connie.
PS. Am still guessing, but only on proper letters I think.
Breckenridge. 5th July 2011.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Connie,
Have a great day.
Love Oliver.
PS. The shirt looks great. Thank you.
York. 30th November 2011.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
Making an
effort to catch the last international post. Don’t suppose it’ll arrive, but at least I tried. We’re all at Dorcas’s this year. Least I don’t have far to go!
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 14th December 2011.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
This house is far too big for just me. But where else would I go? Seriously thinking of selling it and moving into the small flat on the campus itself.
Love Oliver.
York. 3rd July 2012.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Oliver,
Don’t forget age is just a number.
Love Connie.
Breckenridge. 5th July 2012.
[Birthday card.]
Dear Connie,
Many unhappy returns of the day! As I normally wish you a happy unbirthday, just changing things up a little.
Love Oliver.
York. 29th November 2012.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Oliver,
This will be the last card I ever send. Especially as the world ends on 21st December.
Love Connie.
PS. If it doesn’t, we’re having a huge ‘We’re still here so hah!’ party on 22nd December.
Breckenridge. 22nd December 2012.
[Christmas card.]
Dear Connie,
Didn’t send any cards until today as I didn’t want to waste postage!
Love Oliver.
PS. Have fun at your ‘not the end of the world party’ today.
Breckenridge. 4th April 2013.
[Wedding invitation.]
Mr O Voight requests the pleasure of the company of Mrs C Johnson at the wedding of his daughter Abigail to Lt Col Roger Paris on July 6, 2013 at Bethesda Chapel.
[Handwritten note.]
Roger is older than Abi, but he cares for her and she’s besotted. It seems a good match. Anthony is furious and refusing to go. What do I do?
Love Oliver.
PS. Guess we talk on the phone too much. Three years since the last proper letter.
PPS. Yes, that’s the date done the American way. But I’m still a Brit at heart.