Are love letters a lost art?

Modern romance seems to be more elaborate than it used to be. Just asking a young lady to a dance involves a plot, scenery and a script. But the art of writing love letters has been lost in the age of texts and emails.

Taking pen to paper and laying down your heart to the one you love is an act of bravery and romance.

“August 24, 1944, My Dearest Boyd, It is now the day after — we were married — and you made the most happy girl in the world! I guess that the three most incomplete words in the world are “I love you.” I mean they don’t say even a fraction of the way I feel!”

Boyd and Gail Thomas eloped to Ogden, Utah, on Aug. 23, 1944. They met at the University of Utah and fell in love. The world was an unsettled place and they were both just 19, but they couldn’t stand the thought of being apart. So, without telling anyone they boarded a train to Ogden and were married by a justice of the peace.

They spent as much time together as they could, but he went home to his parents and she to hers every night. To keep their secret, they carried on with their lives as normally as possible, going to school, working and staying with their families. The things that kept them going were stolen moments together and love letters they exchanged in class.

Boyd wrote to her in one letter, “I can hardly wait till I read your note. I take you out tomorrow night. Just think tomorrow at this time we’ll be dancing and you’ll be in my arms. I can hardly wait.” They planned dates and their time together through letters and expressed their anticipation of when they could see each other.

Unable to be together until their secret was discovered, they poured out their love in the letters. Gail wrote, “All I want to do is think about you. That is the next best thing when you aren’t here — no lie — I love you and I will for ever and ever!!! I love you — I love you — I can’t say it enough!” Boyd responded with declarations of his own, “I don’t know what to say except what I’ve told you so many, many times, and that is — I love you Gayle Clark! I hope you don’t get tired of hearing it, because I will never get tired of telling you.”

Their secret was finally discovered after a few months, and it was due to a letter. Boyd’s mom found one of his letters and saw that it was signed “Your loving wife.” She was not too happy and confronted him, but after the initial furor everything settled down and they were able to start their lives together for real. They raised three children together and were married for 52 years before Boyd passed away.