235 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Jean,” Toulouse, Friday [July 10, 1931], to his grandparents, the GILLETs; 4 pages, in-4 format, written in blue ink on letterhead from the Hôtel du Grand Balcon. Difficulties at the Aéropostale. He expresses his affection for them, even though he doesn’t write often. “Right now, I’m traveling back and forth between Toulouse and Paris quite often, ever since Gilberte fell ill. I almost lost her: for a moment, we thought surgery for peritonitis might be unavoidable. Fortunately, the doctors were excellent, and Mom cared for her with a devotion you can only imagine. […] I plan to go pick her up next week.” He mentions his mother’s legal troubles, for which he was able to enlist the help of his contacts in government ministries: “At the root of it all are petty acts of revenge involving the hospital and Professor Combernalle, but in the end, I’m hopeful I’ll be able to ward off the trouble. At the same time, jealous rivals were trying to discredit me with the ministry’s official departments, while a bunch of people—former administrators of the Aéropostale—were hiding behind my name and pushing me forward, without my knowledge, behind the scenes against the Toulouse Operations Department. Fortunately, I was warned in time and was able to put an end to their schemes… but it wasn’t without a struggle. However, I didn’t have too much trouble proving my good faith. But I almost had to leave Aéropostale. Fortunately, I’m well-equipped for this life of constant struggle… but it takes a great deal of willpower not to give in to moments of weakness. […] A good balance, along with physical and mental well-being, are all elements—factors—that enable you to stand your ground, and I draw all the strength I need from the constantly renewed enthusiasm that comes from the work itself and my love for my profession. My personal life is wonderful, and the worries and difficulties I encounter in it are of such a nature that they never frighten me, because I know I can overcome them. But it encompasses other lives, and I must accept all the responsibilities: to protect, to comfort—that is, in a way, the life of a man… it is mine, in any case… I do not complain […] My life is my work; I have created it through sheer energy and willpower; I have made it what it is, and that is my greatest source of pride […] This gives you moral independence, the right to hold your head high and act according to your conscience […] and I have faith in the destiny God has ordained for me, and I can only give thanks rather than complain”… He’s heading back to Paris on July 25 “to pick up my long-distance plane, which should be ready by then. […] My health is excellent, and I’m resting a bit in anticipation of the major flights coming up: a new world record on a closed circuit with Étienne, whom I’m taking with me—perhaps followed by another commercial round-trip crossing of the South Atlantic, and immediately afterward my departure for the Marseille-B flight. Nonstop stops”… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family