I don't suppose that people write letters to each other much any more.
I was just sifting through some old memorabilia, letters written by my grandfather from the trenches in WW1. A sad few moments reading letters from my father to his mother exhorting her to stay strong till '75. He also mentions that I should be back pioneering instead of courting, this, he writes, is the only way for me to find contentment.
Then, bingo! Letters from the object of my teenage affection herself, dated -Hmm, I'm not telling! BUT, the way that she signs off is so typical witness style, see if this jogs a few memories for you:
After just being introduced: "Yours in Jehovahs service, **** ****."
After just holding hands (gasp!) "Theocratic love from **** ****."
After a passionate kiss: "Your Sister, (WHAT THE-!?) **** ****."
Eventually I got the full "Theocratic love from your sister in Jehovahs service, as we sing and blah blah, **** ****."
From there on in the endings get longer and longer, was she counting the time, I ask myself? On to the back of the envelopes!:
S.W.A.L.K. Sealed with a loving kiss, easy peasy!
E.G.Y.P.T. Ever grasping your pert ******?
B.U.R.M.A? Hmm, Be undressed and ready my angel?
Oh, no! A.S.H.B.Y.-D.E.-L.A.- Z.O.U.C.H?
The amazing thing is that all this risque correspondence went on whilst we were both pioneering, I was a ministerial servant living at home with my PO dad who didn't seem to notice anything remiss at all.
Maybe I'd better burn this lot before her Ladyship reads it all!
Englishman.
..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.