Ernest Hemingway and Hadley Richardson
Wouldn't you know it! You no sooner fall in love then your friend James Gamble invites you to travel with him to Italy for an indefinite indulgence in "romance spaget and fleas again." Your reply telegram speaks of the truth of your current life outside of the ideals you continue to paint your life with, despite the truth, " Rather go to Rome with you than heaven STOP.
You never do make that trip with James, though you seriously think about it as you wrote Hadley on December 29, 1920, "Things are all up in the air. I'm liable to leave Tuesday for Rome, not Rome N.Y. via Washington to pick up passport and will leave from here to St. Louis and then to Washington. Here's the chance - 5 months of writing under Ideal conditions..."
I have to wonder, Hem, if you chose not to go because you may have had a foreshadowing of what might happen based on your experiences with Ag. In your mind I have to wonder if you don't seriously doubt the old adage that, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." In the end you chose not to go to Italy and to stay Stateside, work, and court Hadley.
Hem, I am constantly impressed the the level of your knowledge around literature and the arts. It is obvious you are a voracious reader. In your letter to your mother, dated January 10, 1921, you write of Levin (1892-1981), a Russian-born journalist who worked at the KS Star; Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941), an American pianist and composer; Josef Hofmann (1876-1957), Polish-born pianist - and the list of composers and writers you mentioned in your letter goes on and on. It's impressive!
As I read this letter to your mother I sense that you may feel a real sense of inadequacy as you try to shine in your mother's shadow. It always seems that you're doing your darnedest to try and impress her and possibly prove to her that you are worthy, somehow. Coming from a Mother's perspective that saddens me as I would hope that she would choose to affirm your worthiness, whatever your career or educational choices, but that space of kind, unconditional love does not seem to be the space that your mother operates from when it comes to her children, or at least when it comes to you.
I love that you mentioned the poet Carl Sandburg in your letter to Bill Horne, dated January 26, 1921. I too am very fond of Sandburg's acerbic style of writing:
"Your head ain't screwed on wrong, I trust.
Use your noodle, your nut, your think tank,
your skypiece. God meant for you to use it.
If they offer to let you in the ground
floor take the elevator."
This year,1921, was a pivotal year for you, Hem. You launched into a life of full immersion in your writing and networking. The year is peppered with letters to editors and publishers and submissions of manuscripts and ideas. Your prolific creative nature is becoming more focused and, as such, is carrying you forward in a time span of perpetual motion and creativity. In this time span you have also made the decision to marry Hadley and that has set reactions and plans into motion that are pivotal to your future.
Congratulations on your pending marriage to Hadley! I see that you will be married on September 3, 1921 at the small Methodist church in Horton Bay. How wonderful! You happily share your satirical view of the event in your letter to your sister, Marcelline, dated August 11, 1921, "The enditer is to become man and wife on September the 3rd at Hortense Bay, Michigan, as yet I do not realize all the full horror of marriage, which was plainly visible on the Blights face, you recall his face?, and so if you wish to see me break down at the altar and perhaps have to be carried to the altar in a chair by the crying ushers, it were well that you made your plans to be on tap for the date. It is a Saturday."
I am thrilled for you as this marks a turning point in your life and career. Before the end of the year you and Hadley will set sail for Europe and the start of something very different from your life stateside. Well done, Hem! Well done!
Warm Regards,
Betsy
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