Today I wrote a letter to the student my family and I hosted during the 2010-2011 school year.  It was full of the usual news:  the Fourth of July fireworks displays were magnificent this year, the garden is bursting with produce, the fireflies come out in abundance every evening, did  you hear about that soccer game in the news, a son landed a wonderful work-study opportunity, a daughter visited, "Dad's" knee has been bothering him again, but he's not about to give up yet as a soccer referee, and how we miss him at Sunday dinner, etc.

 

I wonder if my ramblings will remind him of all he loved about this country and our home, or if they will bore him.  He's in his home country now, very glad to see his parents again, studying like mad for college entrance exams and interviews, face to the future, not looking back.  While he was here he told us how much he loved our family, how good he felt he had it compared to his peers, how he wanted to come back some day, if only for a short visit.  Silently I do wonder if we will ever see him again.

 

When I feel like that I indulge in reminiscing about all the places we visited together as a family:  Independence Mall, the Constitution Center, the Art Museum, the U. of Penn Museum of Anthropology and Archeology, King of Prussia Mall, and yes, even the (ugh) Mutter Museum.  And, I plan for all that and much more with the new student, coming in September, whom we haven't met yet.  Life is so self-renewing, and just so wonderful!