“Eileen Sends My Letters Back Unopened”

Tuesday, June 10th, 2025. 2:44 AM.

Eileen Sends My Letters Back to Me Unopened

So, I’m posting this one to my blog, instead.

Dear Eileen

God bless you

Saw in The Valley Breeze that our fellow classmate, Patricia Lavallee, has departed.

God bless her.

It was interesting to learn a few things I had not known.

She had lived on Spring Street —

As Barbara Bland had also.

And she went to Our Lady of Victories Church.

I believe she told me on FB that she came to St. Charles School in 2^nd grade.

After reading her obituary, I had a thought about you –

I had often wondered where you went to school before coming to St. Charles in 4^th grade.

Now I wonder if, maybe, you also had gone to Our Lady of Victories ?

But, I also recall you telling me in 1974 that your family had lived in either North Smithfield or Smithfield before buying the house at 116 Glen Road – for $50,000. So, I still don’t know where you previously went to school your first 3 years. My mother told me her family had lived in Smithfield – near where Bryant College was built, later.

I walked on Glen Road again, yesterday. Several months ago, I noticed a For Sale sign on the property of 116 Glen Road; so, I also wanted to see if there were any “signs” of new ownership. The For Sale sign is gone. Instead, there is a sign there about a hardwood floor company – Blue {something} Hardwood Floors. I stopped, as always, and looked at that house where you and I played chess one evening in late May 1974. I recall seeing about 4 puppies in the house near the door; your mother said something about Carolyn’s birthday and having not decided whether the puppies would be kept. You told me you were taking Carolyn to the Civic Center to see a circus. I wondered, silently, if I should ask if I could go too; but, I didn’t. Seeing animals in cages seems sad to me – otherwise I would have wanted to go along with the two of you. I wonder if her birthday is on the [___] of May ? I always remember Carolyn’s soft-spoken voice at 7 years old during that “Summer of ’74.” Now I’m imagining you saying again: “You’re living in the Past, Mark.” Maybe not, Eileen; maybe I’m living in the Present – and simply have memories of the Past.

I wanted to place Elvis Presley’s song: “Memories” here; but YouTube includes the most offensive commercials before the songs that I’m only placing the title.