Amy T. wrote to Happy Hollisters author Jerry West twice in 1967, once in January and again in May. She received a reply from him both times.
As part of our Blast from the Past Project, we tracked down a current address for Amy, now living just about 30 miles from her childhood home. She was quite surprised to receive a letter from the author’s family nearly 60 years later, and replied by email:
Good afternoon . . .
Imagine my surprise when I went to grab the mail today and there was a letter from all of you . . . who tracked me down (YES!! It’s me!!) from letters I sent in 1967! I am floored . . . and thrilled. Thank you for all that hard work and follow through, and for bringing back a flood of wonderful memories. Those letters were written when my grammar school was literally in our back yard. I could walk out our backdoor, across the playground and into the back door of my school!
I was always an advanced reader and devoured books as fast as I could get my hands on them. I was perpetually annoyed that the once-a-week Saturday library trip was “only 5 books allowed” (The library’s rule, not my folks!) because I would have those done by Wednesday. However, if my siblings were indecisive and dawdling, I could get a bunch of chapters read before we left the library!
At the risk of sounding old and prudish, I am NOT thrilled with much of the young reader stuff available. So what’s a Nana to do? Immediately go to your website and check out books for some of the grands. Of course!
If you are willing, I would love to see those old letters again. I am absolutely shocked at your sleuthing ability to find me 58 years later . . . and grateful. (Seems appropriate in this month of Thanksgiving!)
Sign me shocked, happy, grateful and ever so blessed,
Amy