Gratitude Girl

Dear Uncle Hossein: You've been on my mind... Yesterday I saw a picture of your daughter holding your new grandson. I can imagine how much you're spoiling your grandchildren. I was there when you were raising your children decades ago, and I saw how wonderful you were with them. My early childhood is a blur, but I do remember you playing with me when I was a toddler. We spent a lot of time together later, too, when I came back to Iran for a visit after having spent a couple of years in the United States. You spoke to me in English: you were fluent in the language and my Farsi was a little rusty. I was a little over six years old. My maternal grandfather had passed away, and my mother wanted to go to his funeral, so we flew from Washington D.C. to Tehran, Iran. My parents didn't want me to see a funeral, so they sent me to Mashhad to stay with Mamanbozorg and Bababozorg and all my aunts and uncles who were living with them, including you. That was my first time getting ...

Dear Nahid Kashichi: You've been on my mind... You were in my dreams a few nights ago, and I woke up to a message from your daughter, my old friend, wishing me a happy Nowruz. I haven't seen you in over three decades, but I've never forgotten you or your kindness. When we were neighbors in Tehran, Iran, you always invited me to stay with you when my father was absent, whether it was day or night. I always felt safe when I was with you, and I loved you for always being kind and calm. Once, when I was at your place, you were reading a children's book in Russian to your son. I followed your finger through the lines and paid attention as you read the text, and again when your son read it. Then I asked if I could read it next. You kindly explained I couldn't because it was in Russian. I insisted, and you humored me. I read the entire book as you listened with your mouth open in shock. When I finished, you asked if I had learned Russian before, and you didn't believe ...