Happy Birthday, Sally—
Know that you have
an angel watching over
you.
Love,
Ann

Angel Letters by Sophy Burnham.

Found at the Stone Ridge School book sale in Bethesda, MD. April 2008.

Dear Mom

I am sorry I acted so bad! I guess it
is kind of depressing but I wish you wouldn’t
judge my feelings on guesses, and insist even
when I say it isn’t true that your prediction is
right. X-Mas is kind of depressing this year. I
mean (I don’t want to sound stupid) but I was
always used to getting exactly what I wanted
but this year I didn’t. I know that that isn’t
the real meaning of X-Mas but I
guess it is a symbol.

I♥U!
4-EVER

Love Kate

Found in a copy of Making Connections, edited by Carol Gilligan, Non P. Lyons and Trudy J. Hanmer.

Hey Erik—

This is
(sur)real.

—Z

Viva by E.E. Cummings

Friday
May 31, 1985

My dearest Soulmate,
Today I want to give to you.
I suppose because I’m uncomfortable
with the expectations of receiving
I’ve felt around this time of year before
my birthday. I decided to love
you physically by giving you
this wonderful book from a man
who wrote this so long ago*. I wish
I could have known him but
I’m a wisher all together, aren’t I?
I have dreams…
Loving You,
Tina R.

*seems like yesterday some of
those words ring so clear

In November I bought Leaves of Grass from Moe’s Books in Oakland.
The inscription was the main reason I got it. On page 224 “Beautiful Women”
is highlighted- it’s the only other writing in the book.

Sara

7/11/83

CS
When all else fails
Read the instructions.
Jim

Doktor Bey’s Suicide Guidebook, Introduction and Collages by Derek Pell

Found at the West End Library, Washington DC.

Please accept this
book as a small
token of appreciation
for helping us out
during the Scocco
meeting of “Our Silent
Friends”

Sincerely,
L. Smith, Mgr.
Baptist Book Store

The Joy of Words, J.G. Ferguson Publishing, Chicago, 1960.

Thanks to Rich Brown, who says:

“The misspelled Scocco in the inscription refers to Shocco Springs
in Talladega, Alabama which was and still is a Baptist conference
center and camp. The Baptist Book Store is still in operation in
Birmingham, Alabama. “Our Silent Friends” meeting refers to a
meeting for the deaf, probably a retreat. This inscription is probably
from the early 60’s.”

MATT—

HE MAY BE AN ASSHOLE, BUT
HE WRITES A DAMN GOOD BOOK.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND MERRY
CHRISTMAS!

JAY

Hardball by Chris Matthews

Thanks to Erik in DC!