Liefste Pieter - Liefste Lieverd...Dearest Pieter - Dearest Sweetheart...

Kennelijk deze ergens neergelegd... op kussen of zo?

Dublin, May 9, 1986

Dearest Pieter,

Just a few goodbye scribbles for you.

Before my hair is dry... (I think my soul will stay wet for two weeks!).

It's pretty cruel to leave behind something so sweet.

The tears are rolling.

I love you so much, I can't miss you.

If you go for Campbell, I'm more accepting of that, but now it's like the family is more important than you.

That's not the case. Even if I had to go to the moon with you, I wouldn't miss a thing if only we were together.

Don't be lonely rascal!

Just enjoy our garden for me...

Eat all the blackberries, strawberries and radishes. 

I'm home too, only I can't touch and hug you.

See you soon!

Lots of love from your Maaike

Apparently this one was put down somewhere... on the pillow or something?

Dublin, 9 May 23:00

Dearest sweetheart,

Let's hear something, via a detour! Uncle Bo took care of that... So it's good to have some family here!

How was your first lonely weekend? Slept well? 

And what was the North & South like?

Does Saartje already have kittens?

Hopefully you won't die of hunger!

Is the group of the course fun?

Are you thinking about the garbage on Mondays and Thursdays?

Stupid to write ahead, but I know you're always happy with a scribble. As long as I can, I will always do so! You know my soul is dried onto this ink...

To take it with me is of no use to me, I'd rather leave it home with you. 

Hopefully the fuchsias inside won't die.

Well rascal, I don't know anything more.  In a few days you will receive real mail again!

Will you last that long?

Lots of love from your own little wifey!

A big kiss and see you soon.

All the best for my greatest treasure. I'm always with you, no matter what. Listen...

May 10, 1986 my arrival at brother Harry's after he'd picked me up at Schiphol Airport...

Letter from Diocese of Roermond, Limburg in The Netherlands

 Letter from Diocese Roermond

Roermond, 6 July, 1984

Dear Mr. Vedder,

Further to my letter of 8 June last, I can inform you that your former wife has not appealed against our judgment of 4 June 1984. 

This means that you are now once again free to enter into a church marriage.

To do so, you can go to the pastor in question in the normal way.

However, you must state your first marriage as well as this declaration of invalidity. 

You can submit this letter as evidence. 

My best wishes for your future also on behalf of my colleagues. 

Sincerely and kindest regards,

Drs. H.H. Notermans, vice-official

Letter from Diocese of Roermond, Limburg in The Netherlands

  Letter from Diocese Roermond

Roermond, 8 juni 1984

Dear Madam,

I am pleased to be able to inform you that the matrimonial proceedings which you initiated at the time have been brought to an end, and that they have come to an end for the better.

This means that the ecclesiastical court, after examining all the data, has come to the conclusion that your marriage to Mr. Franciscus J. van Maris was not a valid marriage.

This judgment is dated June 4, 1984.

Of course, this also means that you are now free to enter into a church marriage again. To do so, you can bring forward the application to the parish priest in the ordinary way. However, you must state your first marriage as well as this declaration of invalidity.

You can submit this letter as evidence.

My best wishes for your future, also on behalf of my colleagues.

Sincerely and kindest regards,

Drs. H.H. Notermans, vice-official

Extract of the Register of Marriage

 On November 8 we flew from Atlanta, Georgia/USA back to Amsterdam/The Netherlands for our civil wedding on November 10 at my hometown of Horst

KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Extract of the Register of Marriage

Extract from the registers of civil status Pieter

Extract from the registers of civil status Mariette

Marriage License

Gemeente Duiven Notification of Registration of Judgment

 Both of us immigrated to the USA from The Netherlands on August 29, 1983

The divorce got finalized on May 3, 1983 but Pieter's ex with whom he lived as brother and sister for 28 years, refused to sign any papers...

So we could NOT marry before we immigrated...

To: Master J.A. Boekelman in Venray, The Netherlands (Pieter's lawyer).

Notification of registration of judgment.

I hereby inform you that on 10 October 1983 the judgment of the District Court of Roermond for divorce was entered in the registers of civil status of that municipality in respect of P.J.C. Vedder: D.E.T. Jeurissen

Respectfully 

The civil registrar of Duiven

Married on July 16, 1955 and annulment from October 10, 1983

So, now we could finally make arrangements for our marriage and also start applying for the green card as we had to put this on hold...

We flew back from Atlanta to Amsterdam on November 8, 1983 for our Civil Wedding in my hometown.

DISTRICT COURT OF ROERMOND

 On April 15, 1983 Pieter got summoned to appear before court on May 3, 1983 and that is the day that their divorce got realized.

Roermond, 15 april 1983

Following the application for divorce or, in the alternative, legal separation, the Arrondissementsrechtbank te Roermond ordered that the parties appear in person, accompanied, if they wish, by their attorneys, at the hearing in camera on 3 May 1983 at 11.10 a.m.

I summon you to appear at the hearing of the District Court of Roermond, in the courthouse of Roermond, on the day and time mentioned, in order to be heard. 

The Registrar

Korte brief met veel inhoud... Short letter with a lot of content

Short letter with a lot of content...

A very short letter with a lot of content; which hopefully says it all: "Dear Mariet"

Me on December 9, 1981