Dear Miss Blue,

It has always been with mixed feelings that I have considered the Covered Bridge.  Earlier, there in Dover, Kentucky, when we were taken to see the Covered Bridge, dark red and with such a barn-like look, I thought it was not at all romantic.  And I didn't like the long look -who ever heard of a long red barn? I was told by my aunts that the red color was to fool the horses into thinking they were walking into their own horse barn, otherwise they would be skittish and rear up and whinny hysterically (this was the thinking of the early builders of the Covered Bridges long before the automobiles were around)

I am very happy that you are traveling in my most honored and beloved Northeastern United States, Miss Blue.  I was so sad, sorry, and never forgiving of our move away from that beautiful place.  The Covered Bridge at West Cornwall was honored by all, with artists setting up their easels and selling their paintings and sketches to passerbys for a pittance.  I found the covered bridges to be musty and dark, not at all the place for the romantic tryst that history tells us about.  The bridges that have been well maintained have continued to be used by cars and people just walking across.  I wish I could be with you on this very meaningful visit, Miss Blue.  Write and tell me of your impressions of Connecticut. 

Love, Pearl 

We are visiting the Northeastern part of your beloved United States, Pearl, and are entirely perplexed by the covered bridge phenomenon. Why are they covered? Please advise!

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

We never wore black stockings - no matter the color of our dresses - only white stockings for dress up and stockings of a tan color, slightly ribbed, for sturdy playtime wear. It is sad, my dear friend, that you had to bear the burden of black socks with a white dress  and, of all things, have a formal portrait made at the the same time! I feel for you, even now. There was a time, before you moved into my neighborhood,  that black stockings would have been helpful in my Catholic School second grade classroom since kneeling beside our little desks was required to say our morning prayer.  I knew my mother would never want me to have knee stains on my tan stockings and so I knelt only part way.  But I was discovered and pronounced a sinner (so soon in life!) and made to slap my hand with the wooden ruler Sister Mary Angelena kept so neatly handy for such times. I did tell my mother that I loved black stockings, My mother never liked black stockings even though other mothers did.

We met while we were both in the 5th grade and I remember the fascination we both had with the girl down the street. Her name was Ruth De Voe. She took elocution lessons and was always called on to recite one of her lessons at the end of our Literature period, remember? We were anxious to learn the two favorite pieces - The Blue Wart and Oh Joy I Wish I Could Be A Boy.  You were always the best, Miss Blue, even better than Ruth De Voe.  But we tried not to notice as we walked home from school taking turns with our new found past-time.

Give Louise my best wishes and tell her how happy I am to hear about your photograph, so precious, bringing back so many memories of our friendship.

Loving thoughts from
Pearl

Dear Pearl,

I had Louise rearrange the shoe boxes at the back of the closet yesterday and she was so rude about it.  I think she must be going through The Change.  Again?!  She snapped at all of us all day long and rammed the Hoover right into the wall so hard she chipped the woodwork.  And she burnt the peas at dinner.  I am trying to be patient.  After all her bad behavior she DID produce this old photo of me that had slipped between the shoe boxes.  I think it's right around the time I had moved into the neighborhood and met you.  We were scheming about elocution lessons with that girl down the street.  What was her name?  And I fought with my mother about wearing black socks with my white dress.  Write soon, won't you?

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Here it is!  The illustration from the Brownies book that we loved so much when we were girls!  I believe I still feel that way about it!  I think we wanted to be brownies.  Or at least very small. . .

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Oh My Dear Miss Blue,

I, too, am grateful for Invictus! He has his mind made up to be forever favoring the dullish ones, lifting their broken spirits with every bit of his unconquerable soul, trying to enchant their weak and weary lives with his brave and loving ways. I didn't know about his yodeling, Miss Blue. My Kentucky cousin Toby was a true Invictus.  His yodeling was unsurpassed as he effortlessly topped the highest notes with perfect falsetto - often during High Mass in the Minerva, Kentucky Church - all in Latin of course! We left the pews singing and happy, Miss Blue. All because of the Invictus Way.

I send my best thoughts to you in hopes that we will soon visit and talk more of the messages of Invictus.  Until then,

Love from Pearl

Pearl, 

How can we ever thank you for Invictus?  He is so entertaining and good humored.  Here he is in his spotted eft pajamas showing off his dancing shoes to Miss Ladybug and Poor Butterfly.  He sings cowboy songs like they have never been sung before!  Even on horseback!  When you come to visit, he will entertain you with his own version of "Red River Valley."  He sings it with a yodel at the end of each verse.  Come soon, won't you dear?

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Pearl!  The egg hatched during the night (!!!) and we were met this morning by our own dear salamander.  We have named him Invictus (of course!) and he has been performing all kinds of wonderful tunes for us and dancing among the egg cups as we sit on the terrace having breakfast.  What a joy to have him around.  Oh thank you dear!  We have sent the little bird back to you after feeding it sugar water from a thimble.

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Pearl,

The book you mentioned never arrived. But this rather exhausted bird landed on Fanny's windowsill early this morning carrying a gigantic egg and with a hand lettered excerpt from "Invictus" under her wing:  "I am the master of my fate:  I am the captain of my soul."  Of course we are confused about how to understand her sudden arrival here.  And to interpret the significance of the giant egg. . .  Have you any advice for us dear Pearl?

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

How wondrous, the appearance of the frog in the garden.  And surprising that Fanny found the frog appealing. But, then again, playfully making mud pies on the wooden sidewalk around the back of Melba's summer house was a favorite pastime for Fanny - always loving the living creatures and disdaining the store bought toys. A genuine love of the frog and salamander. I really do suspect, Miss Blue, that these small creatures knew all about Fanny's love of their very existence; finding always the perfect spot to be discovered by dear little Fanny. I will send along, by the next post, a small book all about the ways and care of frogs and salamanders.  It's nicely illustrated and might even be nice to prop the pages open against Mrs. Highbottom's large glass tank.  Tell Fanny, will you, that I have offered salamanders to be a nice companion to Mr. Frog. I hope she will look closely on the pathways in the garden for the reddish, quick little creature and be ready to pounce before he slithers out of sight. When you next visit Melba and Fanny, will you talk about all of this and let me know of their feelings. Advise.

Love from Pearl,

Always wanting to say something in good faith

Dear Pearl,

Fanny has taken an interest in the garden, Pearl.  The other day she was pinching the heads off the petunias when she ran across a very friendly seeming toad.  Melba resisted the idea at first, but Fanny eventually persuaded her to let her keep him in that very large glass tank that Mrs Highbottom used to keep her crickets housed.  She has appointed it with all the things a toad likes and keeps it covered with a single sheet of cheesecloth she begged from Louise.  Something about the creature makes me nervous.  I can't say what.  Please advise.

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue