60. Letter to an Elder
I'm not alone, as I am surrounded by so many objects that make me think of all of you.
This Sunday morning, I am in my kitchen wondering if I’m really going to cook for myself. (Why bother? A sandwich will do.) But I'm mistaken, no, I'm not alone, as I am surrounded by so many objects that make me think of all of you. The Portuguese rooster brought back by my daughter Isabelle, and the clever nutcracker discovered by her husband Jean-Luc!
The sets of Tunisian dishes and plates with beautiful colors, brought by Anne and Hédi… the toaster I received at Christmas from Laurence and Martin, so many years ago… and in the drawer, all these small kitchen instruments meant to simplify my life, discovered by Camille… the clock with bird songs, a surprise from Noémie, Antoine's frying pan, the six pretty cat mugs chosen by Jonas on behalf of all the grandchildren, the amusing trays from Morgane, and the little maple wood hearts just sent by Nicolette!
And this is not all! On the wall, across from me, the beautiful hand-painted plate that my mother was so proud of (careful not to break it!), and affixed to the doors of the cupboards, these posters of everyday life in Alsace, which remind me of my in-laws. But I should stop...
A kitchen is a place filled with stories, and memories. They surround me, memories are flooding in. And in a little while, I am expecting lots of messages and photos on my phone.
So I'm going to make dinner after all! Even confined, I am not alone…
Mireille
(Translated from French by Anne Francey)
Prompt:
Write a letter (a real one on paper!) of love and support to an elder. Tell them stories about your life and what you’re witnessing in this moment, and ask them to tell you theirs. When you’re done, mail it off!
Love for the Elderly
P. O. Box 24248
Cleveland, OH 44124
USA
Further reading for inspiration:
Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
“A Letter to My Nephew” by James Baldwin
Jenna Valente
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
About: This is a letter I wrote for the Letters of Love project. My inspiration was to share a glimpse of what my life in lockdown is like in hopes that the recipient of the letter would feel some human connection, even during a time when we cannot physically gather. That, and I hope it brought a moment of joy to their day.
Age: 30
Hello!
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits and health. I’m sending you love from Boston, where I am currently on day 81 of quarantining at my partner’s apartment. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve seen my bedroom! We’re making the best of it, which is really all we can do. We’ve been cooking and baking a lot. Last night, I made some of the best haddock I’ve ever had – we paired it with a baked potato. I’ve also been experimenting with new sourdough recipes. Do you have any favorite foods?
What are some of your favorite ways to entertain yourself? I’ve been reading a lot. I’m currently reading a book of short stories by Stephen King – they are spooky! I’m also a photographer so I’ve been taking photo walks to stretch my legs and see if I can view my neighborhood in a new light.
My partner and I play poker and cribbage too, we bet $1.00 on each game, and let’s just say, I’ve made a lot more money than he has. We also try to write one poem each day – it’s turned out to be a fun way to keep our minds sharp and bond. Here’s one you might enjoy. It’s inspired by a happy hour and snacks that we had. It was a lovely evening despite my partner forgetting to buy brie cheese and a certain bread we like to pair with it.
Sliced apples,
they wore red
to the evening
ceremony
Mingling with gouda,
mild and smooth,
complimentary to
wafer’s humor,
dry and out of the box
Once again,
stood up by brie and bread
but sliced apples
they wore red
My best,
J.V.