Melissa G. wrote a letter to Jerry West in September 1968, when she was 10 years old and living in Garden Grove, California. Much to her surprise, he responded, and they began a correspondence which lasted for the next three years. She sent 16 letters in all, the last written as she prepared to start high school.
In January 1971, Melissa wrote that “I love to write and in school one of the things I love to do most is to write compositions.” Naturally, when we reached Melissa (now 68 and living in South Carolina) through our Blast from the Past Project, we asked if she would consider writing about her memories for us! She understood the assignment! Thanks, Melissa!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had my nose in a book. I particularly love mysteries.
When I was in elementary school, I practically lived in the school library, always looking for a mystery to read. One day, I was perusing and found a set of books called “The Happy Hollisters”. I was immediately hooked on them and always had my nose in one of them. So, one day my father suggested that I write to the author, Jerry West.
I was living in Southern California and the “Santa Ana Register” had a column called “The Trouble Shooter.” Dad suggested that I write to them requesting Jerry West’s mailing address. Lo and behold, they printed my request and gave me the address.
So, I wrote to Jerry, fulling expecting no reply. Boy was I wrong! He wrote back to me, and that was the beginning of my pen-pal relationship with him. Sadly, I did not save those letters.
However, fast-forward to about a month ago. I received a letter from Jerry’s grandson, Andrew, saying that he had those letters! I was blown away that he had found me but equally blown away that those letters had been saved in a time capsule of sorts!
That was really exciting for my now 68 year old self. I was 10 years old when I started writing to Jerry, and his replies really meant the world to me.
Not only did I read all of the Happy Hollister books, but I “lived them” with various friends. I was always Pam, because she was closest in age, and I remember that the boy across the street was always Ricky. Other friends would be Pete, Holly and Sue. We would form our own little mysteries to solve. Doing this encouraged some of my friends to read the Happy Hollisters as well. Such fun times.
And now that Andy and Callie have kindly sent me Jerry’s and my letters, I’ve been reliving those fun times. I just reread “The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Treasure.” I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time, maybe more because I was so elated to relive this fun part of my childhood.
Many thanks to the Andy and Callie for taking the time to contact me, and send those letters!
