Exploring the indescribable “Us”
In a touching and heartfelt gesture, Alan Hamel, the husband of the beloved actress from “Three’s Company,” Suzanne Somers, gave her a handwritten love letter as an early birthday gift just one day before she passed away. On Sunday, October 15, Suzanne Somers peacefully left us at the age of 76, one day shy of her 77th birthday, following a courageous 23-year battle with breast cancer.
Suzanne Somers is cherished for her iconic roles in the entertainment world, but she is also remembered for her unwavering spirit. Her remarkable journey was deeply entwined with her 46-year-long love story with Alan Hamel.
Their story began in 1967, and they celebrated their joyful marriage in 1977. Together, they created a family that extended beyond their own children. Suzanne’s son, Bruce, aged 57, from her previous marriage to Bruce Somers, became part of their extended family, while Alan’s children, Stephen and Leslie, embraced Suzanne as a loving stepmother.
On the night before Suzanne’s passing, Alan Hamel, now 87 years old, penned a touching handwritten love letter for his wife. It was an early birthday gift, complete with capital letters and adorned with pink peonies—a testament to their deep connection. The content of the letter remains private, but it undoubtedly expressed a love that transcended time, providing strength and comfort throughout their journey.
As we say farewell to a beloved entertainer, we also celebrate the love shared between Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel—a love that found its poignant expression in the handwritten words of a farewell letter on her final night.
This touching farewell letter reminds us of the enduring power of love, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges. Suzanne Somers’ legacy lives on through the love she shared with Alan Hamel, a love that will be cherished and remembered for generations to come.
“LOVE, I USE IT EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I USE IT AT THE END OF EMAILS TO MY LOVING FAMILY. I even use it in emails to close FRIENDS. I use it when I’m leaving the HOUSE. THERE’S LOVE, THEN LOVE YOU, AND I LOVE YOU! THERE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE USE LOVE IN THERE. SOMETIMES I FEEL OBLIGED TO USE LOVE, RESPONDING TO SOMEONE WHO SIGNED LOVE IN THEIR EMAIL WHEN I’M UNCOMFORTABLE USING LOVE, BUT I USE IT ANYWAY.
I also use love to describe a GREAT MEAL. I USE IT TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT A SHOW ON NETFLIX. I OFTEN USE LOVE REFERRING TO MY HOME, MY CAT GLORIA, TO THINGS GLORIA DOES, TO THE TASTE OF A CANTALOUPE I GREW IN MY GARDEN. I LOVE THE TASTE OF A FRESHLY HARVESTED ORGANIC ROYAL JUMBO MEDJOOL DATE. I LOVE BITING A FIG OFF THE TREE. I LOVE WATCHING TWO GIANT BLACKBIRDS WHO LIVE NEARBY SWOOPING BY MY WINDOW IN A POWER DIVE. My daily life encompasses things and people I love and things and people I am different from.
I could go on forever, but you get IT. WHAT TYPE OF LOVE DO I HAVE FOR MY WIFE, SUZANNE? Can I find it in any of the ABOVE? A RESOUNDING NO! THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE, AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.
THE CLOSEST VERSION IN WORDS ISN’T EVEN CLOSE. It’s not even a FRACTION of a FRACTION of a FRACTION. Unconditional love does not do IT. I’LL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU IF THAT DOESN’T WORK. I wake up when I think about my feelings for YOU. FEELINGS… THAT’S GETTING CLOSE, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY.
55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED, AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS Even that doesn’t do IT. EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 P.M. AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE SLEEPING DOESN’T WORK. Staring at your beautiful face while you sleep doesn’t do it.
I’M BACK TO FEELINGS. There are no WORDS. There are no ACTIONS. NO PROMISES. NO DECLARATIONS. EVEN THE GREEN SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD. SO I WILL CALL IT ‘US,’ UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US. I use it every day, sometimes USE several times a SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I USE IT AT THE END OF EMAILS TO MY LOVING FAMILY. I even use it in emails to close FRIENDS. I use it when I’m leaving the HOUSE. THERE’S LOVE, THEN LOVE YOU, AND I LOVE YOU! THERE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE USE LOVE IN THERE. SOMETIMES I FEEL OBLIGED TO USE LOVE, RESPONDING TO SOMEONE WHO SIGNED LOVE IN THEIR EMAIL WHEN I’M UNCOMFORTABLE USING LOVE, BUT I USE IT ANYWAY.
I also use love to describe a GREAT MEAL. I USE IT TO EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT A SHOW ON NETFLIX. I OFTEN USE LOVE REFERRING TO MY HOME, MY CAT GLORIA, TO THINGS GLORIA DOES, TO THE TASTE OF A CANTALOUPE I GREW IN MY GARDEN. I LOVE THE TASTE OF A FRESHLY HARVESTED ORGANIC ROYAL JUMBO MEDJOOL DATE. I LOVE BITING A FIG OFF THE TREE. I LOVE WATCHING TWO GIANT BLACKBIRDS WHO LIVE NEARBY SWOOPING BY MY WINDOW IN A POWER DIVE. My daily life encompasses things and people I love and things and people I am different from.
I could go on forever, but you get IT. WHAT TYPE OF LOVE DO I HAVE FOR MY WIFE, SUZANNE? Can I find it in any of the ABOVE? A RESOUNDING NO! THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE, AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.
THE CLOSEST VERSION IN WORDS ISN’T EVEN CLOSE. It’s not even a FRACTION of a FRACTION of a FRACTION. Unconditional love does not do IT. I’LL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU IF THAT DOESN’T WORK. I wake up when I think about my feelings for YOU. FEELINGS… THAT’S GETTING CLOSE, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY.
55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED, AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS Even that doesn’t do IT. EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 P.M. AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE SLEEPING DOESN’T WORK. Staring at your beautiful face while you sleep doesn’t do it.
I’M BACK TO FEELINGS. There are no WORDS. There are no ACTIONS. NO PROMISES. NO DECLARATIONS. EVEN THE GREEN SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD. SO I WILL CALL IT, ‘US,’ UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US.”
Suzanne Somers may have left the stage, but her legacy as an actress, a mother, and a beloved wife continues to inspire and touch the hearts of many.
