Letters Exhibit
Sixty-Five Years After They First Met, Dell Myrick Writes a Poignant Love Letter to the Man She Was Fated to Marry
Personal commentary: The question I am probably asked the most is, “What kinds of war letters are you looking for?” I always have trouble answering this because I am constantly surprised by the different types of letters people have shared with me. One of the most unexpected letters I’ve ever seen is the following, which was written by eighty-year-old Dell Myrick in October 2006, to her husband on their wedding anniversary. Some might question if it’s even a war letter, but I would argue that it is because of the pivotal impact that World War II had on their lives. Dell’s letter is the longest in GRACE UNDER FIRE, and the story she tells about first meeting Herman when they were teenagers, falling in love with him, watching him go overseas, and then not hearing from him (because of her jealous sister who was intercepting his letters!), is absolutely enthralling. The full letter is featured in the book, and Dell does a much better job of describing what happened, but I have included below a few excerpts from the beginning and end to offer a glimpse into this incredible story. I struggled with how to conclude GRACE UNDER FIRE, and this letter could not have been more perfect.
My Dear Herman,
As our eleventh anniversary approaches I realize how blessed we have been all these years to be together. And I also realize how much we have missed all those years before.
I remember when I was just 15 years old and approaching my 16th birthday, I was standing in the hallway of our school when I heard someone say, “I wonder who the new boy is?” And I looked up to see you there on the stairway—a brown-haired, trim, blue-eyed, jean-clad boy. Then the strangest thing happened. It was almost as if something went “zing” and an electrical shock had hit me….
Fifty years went by, and I was living by myself in Alabama when, miraculously, I heard that you had moved to a nearby community. I couldn’t believe it!
I joined a senior exercise class where you were also going. I’ll admit that I had heard that you were also there. So one day I quietly entered the class and saw a slim, trim, older version of my high school sweetheart. Your hair was no longer brown, but white. In fact, there was little left of it. There were lines in your face, as there were in mine. But the same happy twinkle was in your blue eyes when you looked at me. Although we had changed in looks, the same feelings were reflected in our faces.
We began going for a cup of coffee together, then to lunch. Then to a movie. Then just to sit and talk and become reacquainted….
After we spent a year dating, we were married. I had wanted our wedding there with my Sunday School class present, and with other members of our church, family, and friends all gathered together, we said our wedding vows fifty three years after we first met!! At that moment, I knew for certain that this was what God had intended for us.
These past eleven years have been the happiest years of my life. Although I look back with regret on all the time we could have been together, I realize that God’s timing is not our timing. Maybe He was saving the best for last, and if we had gone through the struggle of raising a family and the stresses of life during a period of hard times, it might have put too great a strain on our marriage….
We can realize now, as we have so often said, that God had wonderful plans for us all along and guided our every step back to each other. Isn’t God wonderful?
Most of all, these years together have given us an appreciation of each other, and what love is all about. It is about caring for each other, greeting each day with joy because we have each other, thanking God that we have another day together, and knowing that God planned it this way.
I have just had my 80th birthday but I still feel as if I am “sweet sixteen”, and all because you love and treasure me. I love you.
Your loving wife,
Del
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