100 Year Old Birthday Wishes For Elsie- From Her Sister Alice

22 Jan

Elsie (holding her lifelike wax doll),Alice & Hylinda. Gilman is Elsie's brother who died when he was 14.

Elsie (holding her lifelike wax doll),Alice & Hylinda. Gilman is Elsie’s brother who died when he was 14.

Elsie Hayes was born on Jan 22, 1888 in Alexandria, Virginia. I was blessed to be her first granddaughter. I am deeply thankful that I had her in my life for 40 years. Perhaps one of the sweetest letters included in “Elsie’s book” is a rather short note from her younger sister Alice, written for Elsie’s 26th birthday, the first spent in Arizona. I share it with you today in tribute to the love these two sisters shared for over 90 years. They were more than sisters, they were friends. After both of their husbands had died Elsie & Alice took a 3 month trip to Great Britain to visit Jack’s remaining family in Wales and Ernest’s remaining family in England. Elsie was 80 when they made their first trip. I recently read the travel journal Elsie kept for that trip. They experienced a rich bond as sisters and a life-long friendship. For some unknown reason Alice’s pet name for Elsie was “Sylvia.” So here are Alice’s 100 year old Birthday wishes for Elsie:
January 22, 1914
Sylvia Dearheart,
This is just a little word for your birthday—which is so wonderfully different from the one a year ago! Whole cycles apart they are. You might have been the inhabitant of another planet a year ago so unsure you were of life’s substantial gifts, because the flesh was weak but now you are here and a world of blessings will make this the richest new year of all. Not that its path is clear, but I believe it leads toward clearer light and deeper gladness.
I am not going to write you any definite wishes. You know well enough that I wish you every lovely fulfillment, just as soon as God sees you are ready for the numberless gifts. I’m just thankful with you, beloved, and glad you are my friend for all the splendid years ahead; for the rich things your life will add with zest to mine. But my deepest wishes are written not on its pages but in your heart that will make no mistake in the deciphering.
God bless You Dear Elsie-Sylvia,
Your Ever Loving Alice
This 100 year old note brings tears to my eyes and a desire to communicate such rich words to my family more often. Thank You Elsie and Alice for continuing to teach me, now, 100 years later, the lasting value of sharing love with your family through letters. Elsie’s Birthday is still fondly remembered by this granddaughter who misses her and cherishes the record she left forever in her letters.
I am pleased that another 40 books were recently ordered by Arizona’s National Parks. Elsie would be amazed that 525 copies of her Arizona letters & diary entries have been sold by these two parks alone. I continue to be blessed by generous reviews, and humbled by a few negative ones as well. I laughed that one disgruntled reader wrote that she found the book “very old fashioned.” I find it amazing that 261 have taken the time to comment in a review. Thanks to all of you who keep encouraging me to finish “Elsie’s Mountain Years.”
Maybe take time today to surprise someone you love with a note that says “I’m just thankful with you, beloved, and glad you are my friend for all the splendid years ahead; for the rich things your life will add with zest to mine.”
Alice & Elsie  January 22,1983. Note the stacks of books- Elsie remained a life long lover of books.

Alice & Elsie January 22,1983. Note the stacks of books- Elsie remained a life long lover of books.

5 Responses to “100 Year Old Birthday Wishes For Elsie- From Her Sister Alice”

  1. Judy P January 22, 2014 at 8:30 am #

    I love these updates and additional information. I really enjoyed “getting to know” Elsie and experiencing vicariously her various endeavors. I somehow feel I’ve been there although I wouldn’t have been as brave as she was.

  2. Rita Covalt January 22, 2014 at 9:10 am #

    Thanks, Barb, for this lovely tribute to Elsie! It is also a great encouragement for me to write more letters to family and friends who mean a lot to me. Eagerly awaiting the next saga in Elsie’s life!

  3. Becky January 22, 2014 at 10:21 am #

    I was so touched by this letter from my grandma to yours! I remember when Grandma Alice and Aunt Elsie took that trip together. I wish I had more details about their adventures in Europe.

    I loved your Elsie book and I am hoping for a sequel very, very soon!

    • Barb Waite January 22, 2014 at 11:21 am #

      Becky I will have to see if I can somehow copy the pages from that hand-written travelogue for you. It describes in detail the Bed & Breakfast places they stayed, some without heat, some without towels etc. They were so adventuresome considering their ages.

  4. Suzy Efaw January 22, 2014 at 9:18 pm #

    Barb,

    What a wealth you have in your Grandmother’s collections from her many adventures in life. Of course, she (and her sister) was the real treasure! I’m looking forward to the next book.

    Suzy

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