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Letters of an Abiding Faith:

Legacy of a Slave's GrandDaughter to her Son

written by Ella Lewis to her Son (Rudolph Lewis)
 

 

Letter 43

October 2, 1986

 

Dear Son,

How are you Fine I hope as For me I doing Fair. I went to Doctor to day. Say my Blood pressure was up. Of course we got a doctor in Jarratt now. He seem to be pretty good.

I received the sheets you sent. I try to answer all I can also the Check. I sure do thank you So very Much it Come in a needy Time. I went to Richmond to state Fair which was the 22 Second September. It was pretty good. Altho you Know I dont Care For Fair But the Senior Citizens Bus carried us over.*

We is having some hot weather up here. It 80-90 degrees But I dont Complain the Lord doing His will. I went to Bethlehem Church heard a Very nice Sermon. Bunk not doing So good with her Back. All the rest of the Family doing OK.

O By the way Sonny Rivers wife is Expecting a Baby. So she coming From over seas to night. They had to send her home.*

No Buggy diden Come to Aunt Sal's funeral.** He had Just got this New Job he coulden get up and he say really he diden have no money: But call me say he was Sorry he coulden Come. Sal Suffered. I miss her But she Suffered so Bad I Glade the Lord took her out her Suffering. She was So thin she weighed 98 lbs that how bade she last weighed. So much For that.

Well you seem to be having problem with your Girl Friend.*** Honey take From me it Better to be lonesome than to Be worried to death. So I guess you End up with Jean. May Be she Can Come with you Some Other time.

Well Kay left Fort Lee Went up to Ohio stay with her sister.**** And I dont Know What happen. She Call Shelly and say her sister husband put them out the house one night with no where to go. But it serve her Right. Now she Calling Peter want to Come Back. He no good Either make Good money throw it away. So he need to Work.

So you take care of your self, and pray For me. I pray For you again. I thank you again for the money.

Much love Mother

 

 
  

 Commentary

*See Letter 42. Aunt Sally spent time with Mama when Daddy was sick and near death. I recall being at home the summer of 1969 before Daddy died (January 1970). She was quite a comfort to Mama. It is tough when those of one's generation have passed and you are the only one left standing. There are few around that hold your memories and your veneration of  a life that will never see day again.

**See Letter 42. Buggy visits Mama often now. He too recognizes the preciousness of Mama and her memories. He missed out on having a closer relationship with grandmother Sally. He believes he can get a semblance of that loss by his talks now with Mama. And maybe he can indeed. She is indeed a solace for me.

***Again, I must have mentioned events about my intimate life with some  woman, maybe it was Mona Lisa.

****Kay and Peter parted ways. She ended up in California and I think he spent some time there but returned to Virginia. I do not know the last time when he has seen "Blue Eyes." I am not sure whether any of us will see him again. Maybe he will develop a hunger for this part of his family. I suppose he is very near being an adult now.

 

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