A Treasured Letter

Recently, Michael's parents brought over an old suitcase and some boxes stuffed full of his belongings.

Well in that suitcase, there were all sorts of treasures.  Clothes, yearbooks, trophies and boy scout badges.

But best of all, was a box filled with letter's he'd been sent while serving his mission in Germany.

They were from his parents, siblings, friends from home and friends from areas he had served in.

He spent yesterday looking through and rereading those letters, deciding which to save for his posterity.

And he gave a great sigh of relief when he found one of his most treasured letters of all.

It was written on yellow legal paper by his Grandpa Hiatt in North Carolina.

At the time that he wrote this letter, he was living in a nursing home and suffering from dementia.

His mother sent a picture of him writing the letter and a translation, as it was very difficult for him to write:

March 29, 2003

Dear Michael
Glad to hear from you from your mom.
Play it cool!  Play it easy and don't raise any trouble at all.
(Your) Mom is going to be in N.C. for two (2) weeks.
Take it easy and I am sure things will go well.  Our prayers will go with you'all.
Hope the war will be over soon.
Well our best wishes to you and great success.
March Madness is in full sway and summer will soon be around the corner.
Best of wishes to you and your buddies.

Love and best wishes,

V. Talmage Hiatt

Dear Mike-

Here's the letter from Grandpa that I emailed you about yesterday.  It's just short, but he put a lot of effort into it, and it sounds so much like his old self!  He even mentioned March Madness, which just blew us away!  Please save this, okay!  It could easily be his last letter-writing effort because the next day he hardly said anything that made sense all day.  He was so worried about not knowing where he was supposed to be attending meetings and what his assignments were, and we had a really hard time keeping him calm.  It's so frustrating for him to be confused and so heartbreaking for us to witness.  That's all the more reason to treasure this letter as evidence of Grandfather's great love for his grandson.  Because of his concern for you he was able to fight through his mental "fog" and express some of his advice and love.

X's and O's,

Mom

It was his last letter-writing effort.  And almost four months later he passed away (July 27, 2003).

Michael, along with his brothers who couldn't be there, were listed as honorary pallbearers on the program.

And here is part of another letter his mother sent following Grandpa Hiatt's funeral:

It was a very difficult experience to watch my poor dad slowly deteriorate.  As a family we kept vigil at his bedside night and day, thinking each breath could be the last.  We spent a lot of time singing the hymns to him and telling him how much he is loved.  Most of us were with him on the Sunday afternoon that he finally was freed from his weakened body.  It was a sad time because despite the circumstances it was hard to say goodbye, but it was also a time for rejoicing because in that instant that he quit breathing he was no longer constrained by the limitations of his sick and aged body, but his mind was strong again, sharp and intelligent. It's so comforting to think that he is really himself again and he can raise his voice once more and receive a new assignment in the Lord's service.  I am so thankful for the plan of salvation.  I am so grateful for our Savior.  I am so glad we are sealed together as a family forever.  I was so blessed to have such a wonderful man as my earthly father, and I hope I can remember all he tried to teach me and try to follow his great example of a life well-lived.

We are so grateful to have these letters as a reminder of a loving and caring Grandfather.

And we will treasure them.