Letters to Ann

My name is Dawn, I was Born in Burnie, Tasmania, and I am in my 80th year.

I married Max at the age of 22 after knowing him from 18 years of age & we had 54 colorful years of marriage. He sadly passed away on 1st Nov., 2004 which left me in a new home which we had only moved to 6 months before & I am so glad we did. I am very happy there & live on my own. 

My son, Philip, & partner, Greg had moved to Burbank, Los Angeles a short time prior to this & after my husband’s passing they brought me here to visit. These visits have been on a regular basis, twice a year, in May for Mother’s Day & in Nov/Dec for Thanksgiving & Christmas I am currently on my 8th visit since May, 2005. Naturally, I have made many friends in this part of the world & one in particular, Ann. In the past two years this friendship became very close & we corresponded regularly. When I met Ann she was 91, still driving everywhere, such a stylish, elegant, knowledgeable lady, visited her hair dresser, Richard, regularly each week. Indeed, Richard became our mutual friend, Ann was very close to him. Wednesdays, after our “hair dos” we would meet there & have what Ann called our “Ovaltines” (tea & coffee). Because Ann became very frail mid 2008 & said my letters kept her in touch with the outside world, I committed myself to writing to her almost every day & it was amazing how I looked forward to that. Words would just tumble out & I almost not only found myself telling the story of my life in small episodes but sharing my day with her. Living on my own I found this a great outlet, not quite like having someone actually say to you “How was your day” but something like that & I have understood from Ann’s son, Les, that his Mother used to read my letters over & over. Les has now given all those letters to my son, Philip, at his request, & sometime, in the future, I may share some with you.

At Ann’s sad passing in October this year, I was deeply grieved, more than I can say & I have not been able to explain to myself why? However, I felt at a loss at not being able to share my days & life with her in writing. I think I had, very selfishly thought in the back of my mind, that if I wrote to her every day she may still be here when I came over in November even though she had told me last May she would not be. She was right & I miss her sorely in more ways than one, so much so, that I have just wanted to continue writing to her which may sound a little strange to others but since I started writing “Dear Ann” letters, I feel close to her & it is doing me the world of good in having a good reason to get up in the mornings. I find my mind is occupied again with writing & so, once again, the words keep tumbling out! So much to think about now, helps tremendously in passing 24 hours a day when you don’t sleep as well as you did when you were younger! You may or may not be interested in Ann’s letters but it is surely helping me fill a void & they do often say that circumstances in our life happen for a reason – I am just piecing together why Ann & I became such friends & maybe the reason has resulted in these letters.

I hope you enjoy my “Dear Ann” letters.