Sepia Saturday - Passion

The theme this week reminded me of the saying "ships that pass in the night". Not that this picture was taken during nighttime but as far as I can see both lovers are standing on a ship. Also the famous picture of the sailor kissing a girl on Broadway (?) just after WW2 in tango like fashion, emerges from my memory. Although this latter picture seems to have been staged, the theme picture looks "natural" and one wonders what happened to the couple in later life. 

Confidentially I can tell you that my wife and I were equally passionate kissers. (Don't draw any conclusions because the previous sentence is in the past tense.) However, with no photographers on the scene I can't show you any proof. So I have to turn to the family archive instead.

The picture that I found is a postcard used by my grandfather Gerardus Theodorus de Langen to inform my grandmother Antje Doelman, that he would see her next Sunday.  The text implies that we are looking at circumstances taking place before their marriage on December 27, 1916.

I can't say this is a love letter but it is clear Theo is very fond of her. He starts with referring to the little boy in the picture and expresses his desire that one day they would have such a child together "if ever we would get to that point". He quickly disposes of that thought cause she will be very busy this Saturday. So busy that there will hardly be an opportunity for a quick kiss. (Before her marriage my grandmother worked in a pastry shop in Rotterdam.) He then discards the whole idea of meeting her on Saturday and announces his arrival for early Sunday morning "unless of course you are too tired to get up early. Then I'll wait." Earlier he informs her that an apparent problem with his lips is over now "so you know what that means." Coming to the bottom of the card he ends his text with: "Honey, I'll see you on Sunday and here's a hug from your loving Theo."

When I first saw and read this card, it really touched me. Obviously I knew my grandparents only when they were much older. And for one reason or another you do not associate your grandparents with a young couple in love. At least, I don't. But thinking about the text of the card, I feel it is very much in line with how I knew them: two happily married, spiritual  people with a lot of respect for each other. Therefore, the possession of this card is very dear to me.
To the best of my knowledge my grandfather wasn't much of a sailor, nor did grandma fancy boating. But I'm sure they loved each other. And that brings us back full circle to the theme of this week.
I'm sure my fellow Sepians (thank you, Ticklebear) have written similar stories. You can read them via the Sepia Saturday site.