Today, I finally read this unopened letter from my best friend, Peter Hrehoruk, which I received on June 4, 1976.

I had just moved back to Ontario from Vancouver, BC, and had started a new job.

Initially, I moved to Milton, Ontario, because my hometown in Oshawa had too many painful memories of my divorce and the loss of temporary custody of Robin, my two-year-old daughter.

My first wife had been having several affairs while I was at work, so I filed for divorce and custody (1973).

However, in those days, the courts usually awarded custody to the mother.

In my case, the judge announced that just because a woman had been scandalous and wanton in her behavior – it didn’t mean that she had lost her maternal instinct!

So, I had to return Robin to her mom, who was living with her parents on Bloor Street in Oshawa.

I also wanted to live closer to Georgetown, Ontario, where my parents lived, so Milton was my choice.

But back to the unopened letter from Peter.

Here is a photo of the unopened and damaged letter I received from Canada Post, dated June 4, 1976.

After Peter dropped his letter into a mailbox in Oshawa, someone threw a burning piece of paper into the mailbox.

Thankfully, the envelope and letter are still intact, although slightly burnt on the edge.

Here are some more photos of the envelope and letter:

But Danny, why are you just opening your best friend’s letter now – almost 50 years later?

Spanky

Well, Spanky, it’s simple – I found it while going through my storage boxes and had forgotten all about it.

But I remember I intended to open it at Peter and Alice’s place the next time I saw them.

I might have told them about the burnt envelope/letter on the phone at the time, and that is when I was invited to their place for the weekend.

However, I also remember Alice asking me if she could arrange a dinner date for me.

I explained that I do not go on blind dates, but Alice replied that it was Annette Czechowski – one of her bridesmaids at their wedding. I was one of the ushers.

I remembered seeing Annette at the wedding and noted she was shy and quiet. I also thought she was very pretty.

By the way, Janet D’Angelo, my ex-wife, is the 2nd bridesmaid to the left of Alice.

So, I agreed to the date, and the rest is history.

We lived together for a couple of years in Whitby, Ontario, and then married in a private ceremony at a United Church on Adelaide Street (east) in January 1978.

We bought a new house on Hillcroft Street in Oshawa and moved in a few months after our January 1978 wedding (The house was still being built at the time).

I was twenty-eight years old at the time, and Annette was twenty-six.

I began working for General Motors of Canada Limited in Oshawa the same year.

A few years later, we moved to a larger, three-story home on the corner of Roxborough and Colborne Streets—just a few blocks north of King Street.

Alice was our real estate sales representative when we bought the house and the listing and sales agent when we moved to Vancouver in 1982.

She is one of the most successful real estate agents in Durham Region – and has been for many years.

Although Annette and I were together for many years, we separated several years ago and went our separate ways after selling our home in Langley, BC.

We remained friends, and when I had my jawbone replacement surgery in May 2022, she came from Ontario to look after my dog, Holly Golightly, and me.

She flew back to Ontario shortly afterward when I could look after Holly and myself, but she returned two more times because of the health relapses I experienced.

I paid her business-class airfare on each trip because she was still renting a place in Oshawa, and I did not expect or want her to incur additional expenses.

I offered to let her stay at my main-floor suite on Kent Street while I recovered from surgery.

When her lease expired, she planned to move back to British Columbia.

While searching for an apartment, there was a bad snowstorm, and I had difficulty shoveling the driveway at the place I was renting on Kent Street.

Here are some photos of that storm.

At the time, finding a rental place anywhere in the White Rock area was difficult, but Annette found a great 3-bedroom suite in downtown White Rock.

However, renting alone was very expensive, and she was only looking for a 2-bedroom apartment.

I was having difficulty finding a two-bedroom, so we discussed and agreed to share the three-bedroom suite, but we would remain separated.

Annette saved my life on two occasions by calling 911 when I was having a heart attack.

At the time, I couldn’t get out of bed or look after Holly – so it was fortunate that she was staying with me.

She was also able to help look after Holly and me after my jawbone replacement surgery in May 2022.

She and I find our living arrangement mutually beneficial, and we decided to renew the lease last September.

Holly Golightly passed away the same month, and I have had a broken heart ever since.

Only pet owners know how much unconditional love a pet provides – and how much we depend on that love to soothe an empty heart and loneliness.

Peter and Alice now live in Coburg, Ontario, and I’ve visited their place several times.

On my last visit, I hugged them for a long time.

Peter walked me to my car, and we hugged nonstop for a few minutes. Then, both of us said, “I love you!”

On my way back to my hotel room in Toronto, the sky was crying for much of the way.

But the tears were ones of happiness.

And that, dear readers, is why I will wait until I see Alice and Peter again to share the contents of Peter’s letter.

Maybe I will publish the content afterward, but until then, it’s between the three of us.

Dedicated to Peter and Alice Hrehoruk

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

[Instrumental]

Somebody loan me a dime
I need to call my old time; used to be
Somebody loan me a dime
Mmm, I need to call my old time, used to be
Oooh, little girl’s been gone so long
You know it’s worryin’ me
Hey, it’s worryin’, worryin’ me

I know she’s a good girl
But, at that time, I just didn’t understand
I know she’s a good girl
But, at that time, I just didn’t understand
Oh, you know I didn’t
Somebody loan me a dime
You know I need, I need a helpin’ hand
Somebody

[Instrumental]

Oh, she’s a good girl
But, at that time, I just didn’t understand
Oooh, I know she’s a good girl
But, at that time, I just could not understand
Whoa, no
Somebody better loan me that dime
To ease my worried mind
Whoo

Now, I cried, just cried
Just like a baby, all night long
Oooh, you know I cried, just cried
Just like a baby, all night long
Whoo, somebody better loan me that dime
I need my baby; I need my baby here at home
Oooh, yeah

[Instrumental]

Songwriters: Fenton Robinson

Here’s a link to songs Danny is listening to now: A Tub Full of Music & Memories