Frank Love Letters: Basic Training documents the start of a true love story of Horgie and Peach-Pie as they prepare for him to adjust to military life in 1943. Their story starts with written correspondence between Burleigh Falls, Ontario and Toronto during their courtship in 1941 and continues in July 1943 when Horgie arrived in Brantford, Ontario to start his basic training to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, Peach-Pie) is preparing for the birth of their first child and starting a family back home in Toronto. Their story has drawn me closer to loving myself and others. I invite you to read and reflect on something that you are truly longing for, and then do what it takes to get it. Above all, and every day, be loving, be compassionate, and be kind.
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.
