Hossein Ravaghi

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 on a plane by myself. They'd put a big sign around my neck, airline's (rookie?) mistake as it attracted child molesters and kidnappers, and I'd taken the seventy-five-minute flight to Mashhad, sitting next to a shady old man who told me he knew my grandfather and he could give me a ride home. My brain somehow knew this man was lying, and I just smiled at him then pretended to be asleep.

You and Bababozorg were waiting for me at the airport, so as soon as the plane landed and the passengers got out, I ran to you. After hugs, or rather really tight squeezes from both of you, I saw the old man and told you and Grandpa what had happened on the plane. Grandpa had no idea who that man was, so he confronted him. I'd never seen him so angry. You stopped what could have become a terrible fight, and we went home, where Mamanbozorg was waiting.

During my teenage years, I visited Mashhad often, but you were always so busy. You were married and working hard and raising kids, and all that got in the way of us spending time together. You were still always loving and kind to me, though.

Thank you for spending time with me when I was a child, and thank you for always, always, showing me so much love. I am so grateful to have such an amazing uncle, and I love you so much!

Love,

Noosha Ravaghi

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