Dear Mama Kitula,
There are so many things I wish I could say to you. I lack the vocabulary, the nuance of language
to be able to express these things to you, but I hope you somehow know them
anyway.
I would tell you how much I appreciate all you did for me –
that by doing our dishes and washing our clothes and baking bread, you made
life so much easier. I did those things
myself in the beginning, and I never took it for granted when you took some of
those chores off my plate. You gave me a
home of order and cleanliness that was a refuge when life felt chaotic and
beyond my control.
I would tell you your friendship is a great treasure to me,
and I looked forward to seeing you each morning. You were calm and steady and so encouraging,
and I needed that so much.
I would tell you that I admire you so much – you are a beautiful, strong woman of character with an incredible heart for others. You are generous, hard-working, smart, and respected by everyone around you. You have every reason to be proud of the family you are raising and the kind, smart, multi-talented man you married.
I would tell you what a privilege and delight it was to visit
your home for dinner—twice! You told me
it would be an honor for me to come, and you extended hospitality in
abundance. I never felt as welcome as I
did in your home, and I was so excited to share that experience with my
mom. We shall recount the memories of
that evening for many years to come.
I would tell you that I hope to see you again, and I pray
for you every day. I would tell you that
I miss you more than I could ever express in any language.
Julia
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