For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 11, 2020

Love sure is fickle.

A lot of feelings just went by there. Often times it hurts your soul.

Or make sure that they have an older brother or sister half-way across the world to convince them that packing bags and leaving home is a terrible way to cure the issue with the “Problem” parent. The extra years that I had made a difference in how I could present the case for toughing it out.

You can see the beginnings of the buddy author in his letter writing.

Sometimes it’s just best to read the writing on the wall, Mike.

Love scars

Love wounds and marks

Any heart not tough or strong enough

To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain

Love is like a cloud, it holds a lot of rain

Love hurts

Ooh love hurts

I’m young

I know

But even so

I know a thing or two, I learned from you

I really learned a lot, really learned a lot

Love is like a flame, it burns you when it’s hot

Love hurts

Ooh love hurts

You’re in for an even bigger world of hurt when you get back, Mikey old sport… don’t despair, better find out sooner than later

Interesting. I always found it easier to say difficult things in a letter than face-to-face.

Poor Michael !!! I’m suregladI didn’t have parents who wanted to send me away!!!

Right after reading “Dear Martha”, I started hearing that music from Ken Burns’ “The Civil War”.

Send it, Michael.

The old fashion way in getting ghosted.

Spoiler alert: Martha didn’t get any letters because she was not home. (Sick aunt or whatever.)

Yeah, Mike – that needs to be said in person. Better yet, when you get home, just ignore her.

Ah, Michael. Going through life experiences for future use can be hard.

It took time but I learned that a person can hurt you only as much as you loved them.

Letters do not work well in place of a dialog. Assuming “nothing has changed” is not very wise.

That’s the hazard of email and Instant messaging. Words written and delivered are stark and hard. There is no wiggle room or space to walk it back. Some letters are kept for years and the tears can last even longer.

The best way to express your feelings is to write them down.

In those days, you could write a letter, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on the envelope, then go to the post office, or a mailbox, and post it. Plenty of time to decide not to mail it. No harm is done, no misunderstandings or hurt feelings, and you got it out of your system.

Today, all too often, too many people express their deepest feelings on their electronic devices and hit send before taking the time to think about the consequences!

Fun fact about women. There are over 3 billion out there. Loose one, pick another.

I know we’ll find out WHY Martha hasn’t written but yeah, this is a tough time for Michael.

An all too familiar scenario.

Stay on the farm and find a good farm girl.

I’m so huuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrtttttttt … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_1LP3Z6pW4

I am one of those who will write out what I’m feeling and then destroy it. Even these comments trigger responses that are both inappropriate and unkind. Those get deleted before I hit the blue button. I can’t tell you how many times I have written a letter to a friend or relative stating how firmly I disagree with them or how angry I am at the time. Those got torn up before they ever made it to an envelope. It is a GREAT therapy. The anger has an outlet and no one ever gets hurt by my anger or angst.

I have a selfish sister like that.

the time it takes to receive any mail these days because of the cuts could be the reason he hasn’t received anything from her.

Nights in white satin – Never reaching the end – Letters I’ve written – Never meaning to send (Nights in White Satin (The Night) by the Moody Blues)

All part of growing up, son, and it never changes…

Martha has nowhere to run, and neither do her band, the Vandellas.