Chapter 73
Frida Rodriguez ... En Route Arrived
August 25, 1994
Paris, France
Fair Kate,
Vietnam together – that would be wild. The two of us running around eating bánh mì and writing our books. Maybe someday – unless – Confession: I did something I hope I don’t regret. In my last letter to Kirby I mentioned that maybe I’m in love with him but I won’t say for sure until he tells me how he feels and if he isn’t in love with me back then he should pretend I never brought it up. It will be a while before I get a response. Letters have to go through some kind of social evils censorship process over there. Kirby jokes that Communism makes him appreciate French bureaucracy. It could take up to a month for my letter to get through to him and another month for his reply to get through to me. Now I know what all those bees buzzing around inside you feels like!
What you wrote a few letters back about tiny, particular acts of love – your words are sinking in, Kate. It’s been hard for me to accept that I won’t be breaking any glass ceilings. But I’m good at the little things I do. And I like doing the little things. Not just making stew and scrunchies. Now that I have the database up and running, I was surprised to see that I’ve written tiny, particular letters to sixty-eight university newspapers. Thirty-two have published articles about the project. Not only are people sending books for Bobbie and other journos to take into Sarajevo, a few are offering to sponsor students to come study in the U.S. Small acts really do add up, don’t they?
We’ve come a long way, baby. I can’t wait to read your chapters whenever you’re ready. I hope you’re writing a novel about a family that lives on a boat because I have some thoughts on that. Maybe your metaphorically seafaring family didn’t teach you about Tolstoy, Fair Kate, but they did give you kindness and curiosity. You can pick up old Leo anywhere along your Destination Journey, but if you don’t get those other things in early – I think they’re harder to cultivate the older you get. I’m not sure how you can fit that in or if you even want to. It was just an idea – I have more if you want them! But I’ll only send them if you promise to keep sending me yours for my book.
Have an amazing day!
Frida