A postbag of joy, pain and perspective

RECENTLY I told you about the sack of letters — the lockdown backlog. Now I’ve worked through every single item, here’s a quick pick.

First, a huge thank you for beautiful blessings and pretty cards of appreciation. Steve wrote: ‘Is it nice or spooky that so many people you’ve never met would like to be your friend?’ And charming Richard sent a compliment. Thanks, chaps, for making me smile.

Kathleen and Colin sent poems (I’m sorry I can’t print them) and Ian, Margaret, Sophia, Ken, David and Roland are just some of the many who shared poignant stories of loss, while Lin cheered me with a happy tale of new love after widowhood.

More good news came from Jo, who is now reunited with her estranged second son. Hooray for life’s surprises, which is why you should never give up.

Just sharing stories means so much to people. An 85-yearold with arthritis apologised for her poor handwriting but explained: ‘I know you read all letters so feel I want to write too.’ She told me about her family, but gave no name or address. Another octogenarian, Maureen, wrote: ‘I wanted you of all people to know my story.’ It was a sad one, of new love in old age curtailed by adult children.

Listen to the heart-breaking poetry at the end of Dawn’s terrible story of abuse and a life in therapy: ‘I am profoundly lonely. When you walk along a beach and look back and see your footprints in the sand, it must be reassuring to know you were there. When I look back, there are no footprints.’ If you are reading, Dawn, you made a footprint on my heart.

Former soldier Bill wrote: ‘I have seen and done terrible things in my life and recent events in the world have made me howl with despair. But I have also seen many acts of inspiring love and kindness.’

After a pretty tiring trawl though my mailbag, I’m glad Bill reminded me that there is always that balance.