Dear UD,
Seventy years ago you were born. Seven
zero. Seven decades. Seven times ten. The world welcomed you for sixty-one
years. Seventy minus nine.
“Minus,” a simple word, holds so much.
Less than. Subtracted by. Diminished. Changed.
You, mom, dad, the others gone so
soon…those of us who remain are changed by the subtraction. Our lives altered
by your absence on this earth, but also transformed by your example in our
lives.
Your years are over, and you are all missed
so much. Yet your legacy and love and lessons live on in those you touched,
live on in our memories, in our hearts, in our descendants.
For nine years, I have written letters—
words to remember you all, words to share your lessons, words to honor our heritage.
Thank you, Uncle David, Mom, Dad. We
wouldn’t be who we are without you, and we are grateful.
Love, Rach
