To the children of Yedidja,
Oh
Adjoke, Adolphe, Alice, Amide, Augustin, Bernard, Clement, Cosmo, Damien,
David, Delphine, Dossou, Emmanuel, Femi, Florent, Hubert, Hubertine, Jeanine,
Louis, Louise, Louisette, Matihilde, Micho, Moise, Philomene, Rosaline,
Saturnin, Seraphin, Viviane, and Yemissi! Words could never adequately describe
how much my heart aches to be with you right now. You are what I think about
constantly. My mind wanders throughout the day to what you might be doing. My
laptop is still on Benin time. Can you believe it? I have tried to fix it
countless times and I’ve restarted my computer a dozen times since I’ve been
back in the United States. Nothing will fix it. But, that’s fine with me
actually. I can easily glance up to the right hand corner of my laptop and see
what time it is where you are, where my heart is. I don’t have to add 6 hours,
I know instantly what time it is in Sakete and what you all would typically be
doing. Eating lunch. Walking back to school. Cramming around the tables to
study. Playing games on a Friday night. But, let’s not pretend game nights have been
nearly as fun since I’ve been gone...!
I
have talked to Maman and Papa often and I am confident they have told you all
that I send my love even though I am over 6,000 miles away. (That’s over 9,600
kilometers!) I may be a long ways away from you right now, but I hope you can
still feel my love and my support even over all these thousands of kilometers.
I have never experienced the sort of love you all so freely gave me. Thank you
for your love. It changed my entire life and I am counting down the days and
moments until I can see you all again and give you big, big hugs! And, of
course, laugh with you and work with you. Have slumber parties with you and eat
delicious meals with you. Play games with you and make memories with you. Live
life with you and get covered in red dirt with you. Those are the moments I am living for right now. The next moments I can be with you!
There
are many people here in the United States who have never even met you but have
grown to love you each so much because of all the stories I have told them
about YOU! They believe you are just as special as I do. Never forget you are
so, so special.
I
love you BEAUCOUP, BEAUCOUP!!!!
I
miss you BEAUCOUP, BEAUCOUP!!!!
I
had the time of my life with you.
Thank you
will never be enough.
Tata Jill
P.S. Listen to what your Maman & Papa tell you to do...and do it the FIRST time.
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