Sunday, May 11, 1986

Lieve Maaike — Dear Maaike

Groetjes van Saartje en Spooky de buurpoezen die bij ons zijn... nog niks!
Schat van me

Greetings from Saartje and Spooky, the neighbor kitties who are with us... nothing yet!

Sunday evening 8 PM.

Dear Maaike,
I don't know why, but now that I'm sitting here writing, the notes from the drawer keep popping up in my mind. That is how our romance started at the training college. I would slip a little note in the locked, top drawer which had a slit for doing so. Then I put a pencil across Pieter's desk—indicating he had mail! As I arrived half an hour early, this gave me a good time frame for doing so.
Perhaps your sweet note from yesterday also contributed to this. That note really did something to me, to get someone to say that she loves you very much.
Of course I've known that for some time, but I'm not used to something like that being confessed so spontaneously. I also found the note in the drawer and I thought that was sweet too, including Bram. Of course I miss you, but I still think it has its good sides to be separated for a few weeks; then it's not all so self–evident, then you know how to appreciate it even better. Glad you traveled so well, actually still a miracle that I drop you off on Friday evening and that you get another phone call the next day that my girl is safe and sound in Horst, The Netherlands.
By the way, I waited at the exit from the I–285 to the I–75 until the stately blue Jumbo came over. I saw the tail taxiing to the runway on the road (at 20:10) and then I thought; I can also wait until take-off. Because of the wind direction, everything went up in the air where they normally (usually) land. In my mind's eye, I saw you sitting in a row in a chair somewhere. That did affect me quite a bit! Now I'm writing with Brahms and Dvorak in the background. Worked hard yesterday and today. Yesterday morning I first completely did hoe the garden; nice and early, then it's still chilly. Then I turned the sprinklers on and started on the garage door. I had primed the inside of the glass openings first, and then I cut the panes, with a small special device, a kind of scratch knife ($4.50).
This went fine, it's a lot of hard work to get that stuff through (in the right place at least, I couldn't afford a break because I only had just enough. I put them in with a thin layer of white sealant and then the pre–painted slats over it. Then I repainted everything around the windows. When I went to get paint, the representative from Pittsburg Paint was just at W. Supply. He heard that I was discussing with John what color I want to take. He then went with me to look at our house and he thought that there was only one good combination for our house, namely. Colonial white with green. He advised me to do the garage door with that, then you could judge it on a larger level and if you like that color we can buy the rest, the number is registered. I'll try to get the door painted, at least the glass is neatly in there.
 It was disappointing for the cats, they jump against it a few times. I put the box on Kay's freezer and gave the pillow away with the garbage. Today I made the slats against it inside and also primed it. When I got to the church at 9:50 this morning, neatly dressed with cans and Sister Support, Mass had just ended; Apparently, the starting time had changed. No one noticed anything, I said I forgot to take the cans out of the car... The intention was there anyway. Then I first went to school, preparing the slides etc. for tomorrow. I had the paint off my fingers just in time to play tennis. Everybody asked where is Mariet. Father John knew exactly this morning, so he has a good memory. It was hot to play tennis, I lost my fluids today. (By the way, I'm now replenishing it, I had found a large bottle of apple juice, it's going to go empty, you can bet on that, belly or no belly.
It is now almost 21:00 and still 21°C.  In a moment the North and the South starts, I wanted to sit down for that. Darling from me, send warm greetings to everyone, lots of love to you and have a good time and I also love you so much that I didn't go to the moon with you but to America, and I have never regretted that. Goodbye sweetheart, your Pieter

Kitties that ADOPTED US link to post about Saartjes kittens born 3 days after Pieter posted his letter...

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