01/10/010
Mrs Richard S. Freers, Eileen, was born in 1916. I did not know this until yesterday. She was an angel to me from when I was in 8th grade (1960) through my time in the army, a few years later and on into all of adult life. I can not say she was my pen pal. I can say I was privileged to write to her and she to write back until time forced her gentle hand away from the pen. Even so I received cards with a note at special times. One note read how much my little letters meant to her in the words "more than you will ever know". I then picked up the tempo and wrote 4 or 5 times a year plus Christmas. As our communications are now ended by times foible in the face of death, I am so happy to recall my last card and note sent on Christmas past.
I always enjoyed her company. Her calm and polite manner and soft, gentle voice and her beautiful sunshine smile were engrossing to all she met. When she invited me in to her home I always felt more than welcome. I slept there several times over the years, always at her warm invitation. Mind you, I always "brushed up', tryind hard not to offer less than she presented. Her home was spotless at all times.
While in the Army and in Germany, 1964, I was in Bn Hq and the NCO showing me around mentioned that a person could call anywhere in the world on the Hq telephone. In 1964 this was a big deal. I asked if I might make a call. I called Mrs. Freers, awakening her at 2 AM. Apparently this call was endearing to her, I did not know the time in Iowa. She occasionally reminded me of this, with a smile and always in her warm and special way.
I would call or send letters from my travels and she enjoyed them very much and told me so. I think my eclectic nature appealed to her and her warm Iowa conservatism appealed to me and there was a bond between us. Believe this, I always upped my measure when I went to visit her on Surrey Road, in Burlington, Iowa. I never called her Eileen, always Mrs. Freers. Later she moved to Ames, Iowa. When I (not expecting the move) saw the for sale sign in the yard at Surrey Road, I knew a chapter in my life had closed. A neighbor put me in touch and Mrs. Freers, ever gracious, called me right away.
I believe in a hereafter and there forever. I believe one day I shall see her again, in the mansion she earned. And if I am so very fortunate to be invited into her heavenly home, I shall be oh so careful not to "track on the carpet".
Dearest Mrs. Freers : Godspeed!
Mrs Richard S. Freers, Eileen, was born in 1916. I did not know this until yesterday. She was an angel to me from when I was in 8th grade (1960) through my time in the army, a few years later and on into all of adult life. I can not say she was my pen pal. I can say I was privileged to write to her and she to write back until time forced her gentle hand away from the pen. Even so I received cards with a note at special times. One note read how much my little letters meant to her in the words "more than you will ever know". I then picked up the tempo and wrote 4 or 5 times a year plus Christmas. As our communications are now ended by times foible in the face of death, I am so happy to recall my last card and note sent on Christmas past.
I always enjoyed her company. Her calm and polite manner and soft, gentle voice and her beautiful sunshine smile were engrossing to all she met. When she invited me in to her home I always felt more than welcome. I slept there several times over the years, always at her warm invitation. Mind you, I always "brushed up', tryind hard not to offer less than she presented. Her home was spotless at all times.
While in the Army and in Germany, 1964, I was in Bn Hq and the NCO showing me around mentioned that a person could call anywhere in the world on the Hq telephone. In 1964 this was a big deal. I asked if I might make a call. I called Mrs. Freers, awakening her at 2 AM. Apparently this call was endearing to her, I did not know the time in Iowa. She occasionally reminded me of this, with a smile and always in her warm and special way.
I would call or send letters from my travels and she enjoyed them very much and told me so. I think my eclectic nature appealed to her and her warm Iowa conservatism appealed to me and there was a bond between us. Believe this, I always upped my measure when I went to visit her on Surrey Road, in Burlington, Iowa. I never called her Eileen, always Mrs. Freers. Later she moved to Ames, Iowa. When I (not expecting the move) saw the for sale sign in the yard at Surrey Road, I knew a chapter in my life had closed. A neighbor put me in touch and Mrs. Freers, ever gracious, called me right away.
I believe in a hereafter and there forever. I believe one day I shall see her again, in the mansion she earned. And if I am so very fortunate to be invited into her heavenly home, I shall be oh so careful not to "track on the carpet".
Dearest Mrs. Freers : Godspeed!
01/10/010
Mrs Richard S. Freers, Eileen, was born in 1916. I did not know this until yesterday. She was an angel to me from when I was in 8th grade (1960) through my time in the army, a few years later and on into all of adult life. I can not say she was my pen pal. I can say I was privileged to write to her and she to write back until time forced her gentle hand away from the pen. Even so I received cards with a note at special times. One note read how much my little letters meant to her in the words "more than you will ever know". I then picked up the tempo and wrote 4 or 5 times a year plus Christmas. As our communications are now ended by times foible in the face of death, I am so happy to recall my last card and note sent on Christmas past.
I always enjoyed her company. Her calm and polite manner and soft, gentle voice and her beautiful sunshine smile were engrossing to all she met. When she invited me in to her home I always felt more than welcome. I slept there several times over the years, always at her warm invitation. Mind you, I always "brushed up', tryind hard not to offer less than she presented. Her home was spotless at all times.
While in the Army and in Germany, 1964, I was in Bn Hq and the NCO showing me around mentioned that a person could call anywhere in the world on the Hq telephone. In 1964 this was a big deal. I asked if I might make a call. I called Mrs. Freers, awakening her at 2 AM. Apparently this call was endearing to her, I did not know the time in Iowa. She occasionally reminded me of this, with a smile and always in her warm and special way.
I would call or send letters from my travels and she enjoyed them very much and told me so. I think my eclectic nature appealed to her and her warm Iowa conservatism appealed to me and there was a bond between us. Believe this, I always upped my measure when I went to visit her on Surrey Road, in Burlington, Iowa. I never called her Eileen, always Mrs. Freers. Later she moved to Ames, Iowa. When I (not expecting the move) saw the for sale sign in the yard at Surrey Road, I knew a chapter in my life had closed. A neighbor put me in touch and Mrs. Freers, ever gracious, called me right away.
I believe in a hereafter and there forever. I believe one day I shall see her again, in the mansion she earned. And if I am so very fortunate to be invited into her heavenly home, I shall be oh so careful not to "track on the carpet".
Dearest Mrs. Freers : Godspeed!
Mrs Richard S. Freers, Eileen, was born in 1916. I did not know this until yesterday. She was an angel to me from when I was in 8th grade (1960) through my time in the army, a few years later and on into all of adult life. I can not say she was my pen pal. I can say I was privileged to write to her and she to write back until time forced her gentle hand away from the pen. Even so I received cards with a note at special times. One note read how much my little letters meant to her in the words "more than you will ever know". I then picked up the tempo and wrote 4 or 5 times a year plus Christmas. As our communications are now ended by times foible in the face of death, I am so happy to recall my last card and note sent on Christmas past.
I always enjoyed her company. Her calm and polite manner and soft, gentle voice and her beautiful sunshine smile were engrossing to all she met. When she invited me in to her home I always felt more than welcome. I slept there several times over the years, always at her warm invitation. Mind you, I always "brushed up', tryind hard not to offer less than she presented. Her home was spotless at all times.
While in the Army and in Germany, 1964, I was in Bn Hq and the NCO showing me around mentioned that a person could call anywhere in the world on the Hq telephone. In 1964 this was a big deal. I asked if I might make a call. I called Mrs. Freers, awakening her at 2 AM. Apparently this call was endearing to her, I did not know the time in Iowa. She occasionally reminded me of this, with a smile and always in her warm and special way.
I would call or send letters from my travels and she enjoyed them very much and told me so. I think my eclectic nature appealed to her and her warm Iowa conservatism appealed to me and there was a bond between us. Believe this, I always upped my measure when I went to visit her on Surrey Road, in Burlington, Iowa. I never called her Eileen, always Mrs. Freers. Later she moved to Ames, Iowa. When I (not expecting the move) saw the for sale sign in the yard at Surrey Road, I knew a chapter in my life had closed. A neighbor put me in touch and Mrs. Freers, ever gracious, called me right away.
I believe in a hereafter and there forever. I believe one day I shall see her again, in the mansion she earned. And if I am so very fortunate to be invited into her heavenly home, I shall be oh so careful not to "track on the carpet".
Dearest Mrs. Freers : Godspeed!
