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"Frank Love Letters: This Is It." starts off in May 1944. To recap if you're just joining, Horgie (my grandpa) and Peachie (my grandma) held on to +300 love letters he wrote to her back home in Toronto, Canada during WW2 while fighting with the Canadian Armed Forces across Europe. Horgie completed his basic training from July-November 1943 and was shipped overseas to a holding unit in the United Kingdom by Christmas of 1943. Two days later their first child was born. Horgie eventually joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada and worked as a sniper and scout, travelling through mostly Italy. Keep in mind my grandparents are in their mid-late 20s at this time and only keeping in touch through mail. This is literally how to get through the dark times in one's life, how to take care of yourself to the extent possible, stay in a loving relationship and to keep moving forward with courage.
About the author
Frank and Marthe Horgan are my grandparents. They lived in Toronto in an apartment at 50 Grenadier Road after they got married in April 1943. They also often spent time with extended family at 311 Sunnyside Ave. Over 300 love letters were written between 1941-46 during the height of World War 2. His philopshy of life, his openness to new experiences, constant affectionate expressions of love and his longing to be home with his wife and infant son (spoiler alert-my father!) are common threads in this story.
I prepared +300 lover letters that Grandpa wrote to Grandma from 1941-1946 in book form initially to make it accessible to my children (as they can't read cursive) and I needed something to do. Helping Grandpa achieve his thought of being a popular romantic writer is something so special for me to be a part of.
Plug for Draft2Digital, it literally was easier and cheaper for me to format my book, make available online, and get a printed author copy shipped to my home than going to Staples and figuring how to use the self-serve copy machines for basic 8.5 x 11 manuscript. I believe it is the responsibility of a community to tell it's own story. We write our stories to learn about what is important in life and how to get it, what is worth honouring and celebrating and what is not worth ever repeating. I invite you to follow their story and have something different to reflect on next Rememberance Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or other observance of tragedy. Reflect on love and what it takes to get home.
