Epistofied

Dear Grandma,

Greetings from Riga!

I want you to know you made my day last Tuesday. When I got home from school, I opened my mailbox and found a package. I didn't even have to look at the name; from the writing alone, I could tell the envelop was from you. Do you think you're the first lady from Chapin ever to send a package to Riga?!

I dashed up the stairs, Grandma, like a ten-year-old version of myself on Christmas morning. With reckless abandon, using a knife from the kitchen, I swiftly yet cautiously slid open the envelop, and there inside a found a small collection of treasures. Thank you so much for the photos -- they took me back to the immense happiness of the Wedding this summer and of your special day riding as Parade Marshal in the Chapin Big Country Days parade. I especially liked your notations on the backs of the pictures! The Daily Devotional will encourage me all the way through Christmas. As I read it of a morning, I'll think of you reading it before bed.

Best of all, though, Grandma, was your letter -- two papers, front and back, covered with the writing of Love. Tuesday afternoon was already sunny, but when I began to read your words, the sun shone that much brighter. The bucolic tranquility of your home, the busyness of your baking -- oh, I miss your pies! -- and the news about our family made me feel as if I were just down the highway from you.

I've received a lot of e-mails here, a few instant messages and just a few phone calls, each of which has been wonderful in its own right. Folks back home have been so good to stay in touch. But, there was something about seeing your impeccable penmanship, holding the yellow legal pad leaflets in my hands that... I don't know, made me feel closer and more connected than I've felt thus far. Your words traveled from your heart through your hand, Grandma, and the love you bound and mailed from the Chapin Post Office on Superior assuredly comes straight from God.

Well, after reading your letter, I felt so enthused. I had a few errands to run -- to the market, the post office -- so not wasting anytime, I set your letter down, picked up my keys and bound down the stairs as quickly as I had come up them. You see, my heart was buoyant. So, Grandma, I stepped through my door, leapt over a puddle or two, and waltzed proudly into that Baltic sunlight. I smiled thinking about you, and the honor it is to be your grandson, and without a doubt in my mind, headed in the exact opposite of the direction I needed to go!

Lost in my thoughts, it only took a few blocks until I realized I needed to turn around to get where I was going. So, with the radiant light still blazing from above, I turned myself around, examined the street signs and confidently headed off again. In the wrong direction.

Don't you worry, though, Grandma. I eventually found my way. And, rest assured, my errors in judgement were good, strong errors -- not minute, sissy ones! These were the kind of mistakes you'd be proud of! I was lost and not ashamed! One of things you've modeled for your family over the years, Grandma, is while there may be plenty in life to avoid, charity, grace, and faith are not among them. Those ought to be embraced and done up big -- big enough to cover up our tracks down the wrong road. Big enough to welcome each other back home. Big enough to ensure "lost" is only a temporary variation of "found".

Couple weeks ago, I assigned one of my classes the task of writing their own grandmothers. You see, we were discussing how to write informal letters, and as I thought on the subject, you naturally came to mind as one who still practices the art of epistolary writing and does it well.

My students' final outcomes were awe-inspiring, and I wanted to share a few of their lines with you. Like me, you may be amazed by their sincerity and craftsmanship... and the similarities.

"Thank you for your interesting letter. I also enjoyed the two weeks I spent with you in that beautiful countryside house of yours. John was so jealous when I showed him the pictures. I'll never forget those days. In fact, I wish I could be there now."

"I hope to visit you next week and that you'll make your special sausage rolls, which I really like. If you need anything from Riga, just tell. I'm waiting for your answer."

"Oh, I almost forgot, Grandma -- I wanted to ask you -- could you please knit me a pair of socks again? The pair that you gave me last Christmas was great, but I have lost them unfortunately."

"I can't wait to hear another one of your stories -- they are so funny!"

"I know that you are very busy during autumn and that there's a lot of granny-stuff going on now, but I'm completely sure that you'll manage to find time for a response."

"The decrease in numbers of apples in my yard tells me you were here. If so, too bad we didn't see each other, but thanks for taking the apples! Autumn is slowly taking over summer in my garden..."

"We have many new teachers and they really look and sound like nice people. My previous experience proves that all teachers are like that in the start..."

"You sure can cook! Anxiously waiting to taste your famous (at least to me) fried chicken with garlic. Can't wait till dinner, Grandma!"

"I'm sorry for not writing for so long, but it's because I don't usually write letters -- I use e-mail, but you don't know how to use a computer."

"We have this new English teacher, Tim. I like the way he talks and I'm learning a lot from that. I just know my English will improve this term. By the way, he has a grandma too and you two have a lot in common. Isn't that funny?"

"Last but not least, remember that I miss you, Grandma! I can't wait to go visiting you sometime when I'll have fewer things to do for school. I can't wait to have your delicious pancakes for breakfast!"

Thanks again for the letter, Grandma. Let me know when you receive mine.

Love, your grandson,

Tim

PS-Don't send all the leftovers home with Dad!