What better content could one ask for in a letter from Natalie Wood (1938-1981) than one remarking on her newfound passion for swimming—her childhood obsession that transformed into a great fear of drowning, which ultimately was the cause of her death. A youthful Wood (circa 1940s) writes to cousin Constantine Luizunie confessing: “Aren’t you glad that school is over? I am & I’ve been going to a swimming pool all the days that I’ve not been working. That’s about 6 days. I’m real brown now, and I’ve finally learned how to swim. Pop bought me some swim fins, gee, they’re fun to use. I’m so exited [sic], I swam across the pool three times today. I met two girls at the pool a few days ago, & its fun to have somebody to play with. Oh, I almost forgot, I talked on the telephone to Talia, for six minutes way over in Shanghia [sic] China, I was so excited, Talia sounds so small over the phone. Well, I’m aching for another swim, so Goodbye, Love, (signed) Natalie.” Then, following her potent signature, Wood adds, “Say Hello to your mother from my mother & I.” The letter is penned entirely in Wood’s cursive hand along three pages (two adjoining sheets) of floral stationery. The 3.75 x 5 memento exhibits fine condition, and the childhood star’s black fountain pen writing remains remarkably clear. Wood’s sincere note, making known to a close relative her love of swimming, is particularly interesting in light of her well-documented fear of drowning—a phobia that affected the starlet’s efforts in water-related films such as “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” and “This Property is Condemned.” On November 29, 1981, while yachting with husband Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken, Wood slipped off the luxury vessel and drowned. PSA/DNA pre-approval and RRAuction COA.
