A Letter of Love...

June 3rd, ...

Beloved,

I saw the note you left me this morning. And of course, I cried over it. That’s because you used too much rose scent. It made my eyes water.

You also left the tea kettle on. My dearest darling, I do so wish to keep on living in this house. Please try harder not to burn it down.

Would a tea kettle catch fire if it boils empty? It does have all that plastic on it...and it is right next to the paper towels. I suppose the coffee pot would be more dangerous though, if you left that on. The glass would crack and maybe it would shatter everywhere. I really don't know. I could be exaggerating any possible kind of danger.

Nevertheless, you really ought not to be so careless.

Not that you are a careless man. I know that. You are thoughtful and good. And don't think I didn't notice the new vase of carnations you set on the table. Insane man. At what hour would you have had to get up to run to the supermarket, buy flowers, and then still be off to the airport by four in the morning?! Have you no thought for a decent amount of sleep? I hope you slept on the plane, silly.

But thank you. The carnations are lovely.

I missed you the moment I woke up with a funny little ache in my heart, and all day the kids have wanted to know where you are. Isn't funny how they forget so quickly even though we've been telling them for weeks? And you said goodbye last night. But Peter and Philomena keep asking if you'll be home for dinner. Even Joseph has been squirmier than usual.

But they're also excited for Mei to come home. After several reminders that you won't be home for several days at least, Peter and Philomena went off to play. It was suspiciously quiet, let me tell you. But Joseph was hungry so I didn't check on them. Just before lunch, Peter came up to me--and oh, how solemn he looked! I wish you could have seen him--with an arm full of drawings.

"We made these for Mei. That way she'll have lots of drawings already, since you said she's too little to draw with us." Oh my precious.

And of course Philomena then insisted that I take one of her dolls--which she dressed up very well, I must say--to put in Mei's crib.

"And Mei can play with me every day," she said, "A baby sister is so much better than a baby brother. But I love Joseph too. But Mom, why isn't this baby coming out of your belly?"

Needless to say, I was highly amused.

Philomena has now taken to playing adoption with her dolls.

"You're adopted," she says and then adds, very seriously, "but we love you every bit as much as your brothers and sisters."

Oh, my love, I am as anxious as they are to have you home again, and Mei with you. In many ways, I am still in shock that Armando and Althea named us as legal guardians, and shocked even more over their loss. But Mei is a blessing and I am so grateful we can bring her home at last.

I will see you soon. Come home safely.

All my love.