Once upon a time, 20 Valentine's Days ago,
there was a handsome, not-quite-so young man who worked as a Vice President in a big bank's Trust Department. He had a nice, sweet wife who worked at home and was also a preschool teacher. They were the parents of a fine family of five.
There was a daughter named Hayley who was in first grade and could play tic-tac-toe, and do paintbrush and "My First Incredible Amazing Dictionary" on the computer all by herself. There was one, and only one, son named Tom who was in the sixth grade and a huge fan of Jazz Basketball, especially John Stockton. There was another daughter named Betsy who was a brand new teenager and always busy cross stitching or reading or talking. There was another daughter who was a 17-year-old Woods Cross High School Junior who worked part time at Bob's Deli. And there was that cute, sweet, adorable baby girl who had just been born in Story #4 who was now all grown up! She was still cute, but a bit sassier and smarter. She had graduated from high school the spring before and was now going to Snow College far away from home.
Her father, her mother, her sisters and her one and only brother missed her so much they created a valentine especially for her. That was in the days before digital cameras, e-mail and Instagram. First they had to take pictures with a camera that had film in it. Then they had to take the film to a store to be developed into photographs. Then they turned the photographs into a long valentine card that spelled a special message. They put the card into an envelope, put an address and stamp on the envelope and mailed it to Ephraim, Utah. The pictures looked like this (except for the letter "L" which is lost) . . . but the actual valentine was possibly cuter.
"WE"
there was a handsome, not-quite-so young man who worked as a Vice President in a big bank's Trust Department. He had a nice, sweet wife who worked at home and was also a preschool teacher. They were the parents of a fine family of five.
There was a daughter named Hayley who was in first grade and could play tic-tac-toe, and do paintbrush and "My First Incredible Amazing Dictionary" on the computer all by herself. There was one, and only one, son named Tom who was in the sixth grade and a huge fan of Jazz Basketball, especially John Stockton. There was another daughter named Betsy who was a brand new teenager and always busy cross stitching or reading or talking. There was another daughter who was a 17-year-old Woods Cross High School Junior who worked part time at Bob's Deli. And there was that cute, sweet, adorable baby girl who had just been born in Story #4 who was now all grown up! She was still cute, but a bit sassier and smarter. She had graduated from high school the spring before and was now going to Snow College far away from home.
Her father, her mother, her sisters and her one and only brother missed her so much they created a valentine especially for her. That was in the days before digital cameras, e-mail and Instagram. First they had to take pictures with a camera that had film in it. Then they had to take the film to a store to be developed into photographs. Then they turned the photographs into a long valentine card that spelled a special message. They put the card into an envelope, put an address and stamp on the envelope and mailed it to Ephraim, Utah. The pictures looked like this (except for the letter "L" which is lost) . . . but the actual valentine was possibly cuter.
"WE"
"LOVE"
"YOU"
All the people in these pictures have grown a little older . . . and four more uncles, one more aunt and 13 more cousins have also joined their family . . . so now this message is for all of you, too!
Happy Valentine's Day soon!
Love,
from the letter "W", "Y", and "O"
(also known as your Grandpa and Grandma)
(also known as your Grandpa and Grandma)
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