Love Is Made Through Letters By Joseph Lenio
2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township,
NJ 08618
Feb 19, 1973
Dear Isabella,
Hello, I am Frank Rossi from the United States of America. I am writing to you as part of a class project. I am a college student at Trenton State College in New Jersey. I am in a course here at Trenton State called On Letter Writing. I was reading a magazine article, trying to find out who I was going to write to, and I saw your name in the article saying that you wanted people to write to you from America. I thought that this would be a great thing for me as well because other people are stuck to people in the US. I also read that you love the sport soccer. This is so amazing because I am on the soccer team at my school. I do not know if it is like this for you guys but we have teams from our colleges and we compete against other colleges. Already we have one thing in common. I am a first year student at Trenton State so I am only 19 years old. I read that you are 20 and I was wondering if you were in college over in Italy? Anyways It was very nice to introduce myself to you and I guess I will wait and see if you write back to me.
– Frank Rossi
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
Feb, 26 1973
Dear Frank,
It was so great to hear that you read my article. To be honest with you, I did not think that anyone would write to me. It is really nice that you have a class where you get to write letters. I am in college at the University of Napoli. I am studying English in school. What are you studying? Also it is wonderful to hear that you are on your college’s soccer team or as we call it calcio. It is a very big deal here and everybody loves to go to the games around here. My favorite team is SSC Napoli. I live in the same region as this team so I am a huge fan. How is school going for you in your first year? What are you thinking about studying in college? I would love to continue this and become pen pals. Let me know if you would be interested in this. Thank you!!
– Isabella Lenio
2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township,
NJ 08618
Mar 07, 1973
Dear Isabella,
I can not believe you wrote back. That is so cool that you are from Napoli. My moms side of the family came from Calabria. My first year is going really well. I am in my second semester and I am loving the journey. I am studying Business here at Trenton State. I would love to own my own company one day. I would like to continue to write to you throughout the semester. I may even get extra credit for it too. Let me know a little bit more about yourself. I’ll start. In my free time I like to play golf, go to the gym, hang out with friends, and I am starting to become more of a catholic since I was raised that way as a young kid. Hope you write back,
– Frank
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
Mar 16, 1973
Dear Frank,
I just received your letter and I am glad you want to continue to write to me. I’ll let you know that I have never had anyone write back to me when I was writing to them like this. In my free time I love to read, hang out with my friends and family, and I am also into my religion. My parents raised me to be religious and I have never really given it up. School is very important to me and I love learning the English language. I want to one day live in America. Maybe one day we could meet in person. That would be something crazy, wouldn’t it? Anyway let me know some more about your family life, if you are comfortable with that. My family is awesome. I live with my mom, dad, Grandparents, brother, and sister. I am the youngest sibling and it can be both great and bad at the same time haha. I have an exam coming up this week that I am very stressed about so writing to you really helped me calm down for a little while. I have to study now. It was great to hear from you and I hope to hear from you again.
– Isabella
2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township,
NJ 08618
Apr 02, 1973
Dear Isabella,
It was nice hearing about your interests and your schooling. I hope you did well on that exam you were telling me about. Your family sounds like they are very close with having all of them in the same house. My family is more complicated than that. I live with my mom and I do not know who or where my dad is. My mom raised me and my two little brothers. They are so important to me and I have always felt this need to protect them. I am not really sure why. Maybe it is because we do not have a dad, but they always are my first priority. If you ever did come to America, you would know where to find me. I have always wanted to go to Europe somewhere and since my family is from Italy, I would love to visit there. Are you excited about the school year almost being over? I cannot wait for summer!! It is the best time of the year no doubt. I get to just hang out with my friends whenever I want, it is hot outside, and I love going to the beach. Anyway it was nice to hear from you!
– Frank
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
Apr 14, 1973
Dear Frank,
I love hearing that you have that relationship with your brothers. Family is very important here and I love spending time with my family. I will be sending some homemade pasta and sauce along with this message. All you have to do is cook it. The pasta and sauce are fresh and made by my grandmother. Like you, I am so happy about the start of summer. I love to go to the beach with my friends and family. If you ever visit Italy, come see me, I would love to meet you.
– Isabella
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
June 10, 1973
Dear Frank,
Are you good or have you just been ignoring me? I do not think it is nice to not even respond to someone who sent you not only a letter but also some pasta and tomato sauce. If you did not want to be Pen Pals you could have just told me.
– Isabella
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
June 21, 1973
Dear Isabella
I am so sorry that I did not respond to you. It was a really messed up thing to do. I hope you can forgive me. Please thank your grandmother for her terrific pasta and sauce. Again I am deeply sorry and I would love to continue to write to you and I truly mean it. I feel like we have a good connection here. I hope I did not ruin it. Sorry again.
– Frank
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
June 30, 1973
Dear Frank,
I can’t stay mad at you. I am not really sure why. I am glad to hear that you liked my grandmother’s food. I am even more happy to read that you want to still be Pen Pals with me. This means a lot to me, I hope you know that. I think that we have a good connection here too. I am sending you a photo of me just so that you can put a face to these letters and I hope you do the same.
– Isabella
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
July 10, 1973
Dear Isabella,
You are quite beautiful. I never thought that this was what you looked like. I am going to send you a picture of what I look like too. I will send you a jar of my moms homemade jam and I would really love some more pasta and sauce if that is okay with you.
– Frank
Fast Forward to 1976
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
May 01, 1976
Dear Frank,
Hey Frankie! I am so happy that you will be graduating college next week. I have a little something to say to you. I cannot believe that we started writing to each other 3 years ago. It has been such a great 3 years writing to you. I do not know how this is possible since we have never met and only have gotten to know each other through the form of a letter, but I think that I am in love with you. This is a lot for me to admit and I am truly hoping that you feel the same way.
Love, Isabella
2000 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township,
NJ 08618
May 15, 1976
Dear Isabella,
All I can say is that I am so happy that you came forward with your feelings first. I have been having such similar feelings and I am also wondering if it is crazy since we have never met in person. I cannot even tell you what I have been thinking about you. You drive me crazy and I really want to see you in person. After college I should make a trip to you. Also don’t forget that after this week you will have to write to my home address.
Love, Frank
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
May 22, 1976
Dear Isabella,
How are you darling! I will be making a trip to Italy next month. My parents do not know yet, so I don’t know how I am going to tell them. I cannot wait to see you and hold you in my arms finally You have been an amazing part of my life since I first reached out to you just a little over 3 years ago. You are so amazing and such a good hearted person. I will be arriving there on June 10th and I will be staying for a month. I can not wait to see you.
Love, Frankie
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
June 1, 1976
Dear My Frankie,
I cannot believe that I get to see you in just under 10 days. This is going to be the best time of my life. I hope you know that my family is loud and it is going to take a little bit before they can trust you fully. I hope you get this before you leave! I love you
Love, Isabella
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
July 15, 1976
Dear My Fiance,
I miss you so much. That was the best month of my life and I am so happy that you said yes when I proposed to you. I cannot wait to get married to you. I miss you and I miss holding you and being able to kiss you whenever I wanted. I know that you are moving here in less than a month but I seemingly can not wait until then. I love you so much!
Love, Your Frankie
Via Guantai Nuovi 13, Bagnoli,
Napoli 80124
July 23, 1976
Dear My world,
Frankie, I cannot even tell you how much I love you. I cannot wait till i move there and we can get married and live on forever. I miss you so much. I keep thinking about the 2 nights we spent at the beach and how I will never forget that moment when you dropped to one knee to propose. That was the best moment of my life and I am so happy that we can spend the rest of our lives together. By the time you get this I will be either ready to come or I will already be there. I love you!
Love, Isabella
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
August 5, 1976
Dear Mama and papa,
Hey Mama and Papa! I am here all safe and married already! I love Frankie so much and I am so happy that I got your approval to move here. I miss you guys so much and I hope you are doing so well!!
Love, Isabella
1111 Hazelwood Ave, Middlesex,
NJ, 08846
September 3, 1976
Dear Mama and Papa,
Mama, Papa, you are going to be grandparents!! Frankie and I are so happy to say that we are pregnant and we are ready to start our little family in the states. I will always treat my kids with the love and respect that you guys treated us with. I hope you both can come visit us when the baby comes. My new job is going really well. I am a teacher at Middlesex High school. I love my students and they are all happy that I am having a baby. I hope all is well with you both. I love and miss you!!
Love, Isabella, Frankie, and the new one
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