Visiting the O’Neal Farm

If you exit the interstate near the still-small town of Carrollton, KY and head a bit north and away from the great Ohio, you’ll soon find yourself traversing rolling, wooded KY farmland as pretty as you’re likely to find anywhere.  Steep-graded meadows, fresh from the haying, Kelly-green in June morning light.  Old wooden fences parceling…

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Feeling Impatient & Loving the Journey

I’m sitting here tonight listening to Jonell Mosser’s album, “So Like Joy”… full of soulful vibes and great lyrics…. Jonell is an accomplished songwriter and performer- and Larry & Joy’s only daughter. So much of her mother lives on in Jonell’s face, and I’m reading the letters Joy wrote back in 1941 and 1942- helplessly…

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Save the Rest of Your Life for Me

Hi!  I can’t believe that more than a month has passed since my last Larry & Joy post!  I say it every year, but time it FLYING.  Lest you think that I haven’t been thinking about Larry & Joy over these past weeks- I assure you, I have.  I’ve actually been diving into getting their…

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Waiting for a Kiss- October 1941

Hi there!  Hope you’re ready for the next batch of letters; I’ve added four for your reading pleasure today.  There are some great old songs mentioned, and you can’t help but get caught up in the rush of new romance.   Check out the playlist if you’d like to listen to all the songs mentioned below.…

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The Beautiful Beginning

Here we arrive at the very first letter Larry ever sent to Joy….. on October 1, 1941.  After Larry had spoken with Charles about his feelings, and a few days before Charles wrote his last letter to Joy.   After just two meetings and only 5 minutes of private conversation, somehow this man was certain…

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A Summer Sunday- Part II

It must have been a hard conversation, and a VERY long drive.  Larry had to tell Charles about his feelings for Joy before things went any further.  Larry would have known that Charles was writing to her, and that his feelings were growing.  Charles had given her his class pin- that was a big deal. …

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A Summer Sunday- Part I

Friends, you’ve waited long enough, and it’s time to share the story of how Larry Mosser met Joy O’Neal.  An ordinary meet-cute, in an ordinary way, in an ordinary small Kentucky town.  But for these two, their families, me, and now all of you, it’s a tale to cherish.   I’ve just started writing the…

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Updates & New Discoveries!

It’s Sunday evening and the house is quiet. Cozied up on the couch, I’m looking at Larry’s handwriting on another faded envelope, stamped with a war-era ‘Torch of Enlightenment’, and an entreaty to join the Red Cross Roll Call.  It’s entirely possible that I am the first person to open and read this letter in…

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Waiting for April

Life is full of waiting, isn’t it? … And it’s almost ALWAYS hard to be patient.  (How much more so for those young & in love!)  In March of 1942, Larry & Joy were waiting eagerly until their next opportunity to see each other.  Sometime in April Larry would travel from Alabama to Kentucky, and…

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Some Things Are Meant To Be (February 1942- Part II)

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As you know, I’ve been trying to get in touch with Larry & Joy’s daughter since early December.  I’ve had such mixed feelings about going forward with this project if I could not make that connection and receive the family’s blessing.  Despite my internet sleuthing, I don’t think my initial messages were reaching anyone, and…

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