S -

Whenever you speak of your mother, it makes me wish that I could take you home to my family. They are very much a fan of giving affection where they feel it has been withheld. You would be brought home, bundled up, and fed until you would burst. And then, they would bring out the ice cream and gossip until you were smiling. My mother is fine, though she sends me cross-stitches that I cannot hang anywhere because we are always moving. I think she is trying to guilt me to visit, because the last one just said 'come home' in very pointed red block letters.

My sisters are all in varying states of romance. Even the married one now complains her husband does not woo her enough and sends letters to me like I can give him advice, when my own love life is disaster enough, having been pillaged and lonely for so many years. Love in the military isn't easy, especially when you feel like you don't fit. The youngest is going back to school soon and wants to study theatre. Mother and Father are throwing fits, of course, but they will relent as they love her.

I feel like I can tell you anything and that it matters. Because I have to think about what to write, it means you understand more things than anyone does about me. Back when they suggested this to me, I thought it was a stupid idea.

And then you wrote back and I knew that it was worth every effort. When I get your letters, I'm the happiest I've been outside of the time spent with some of my unit -- though, that's a subject for another letter because it is complicated and even I don't understand it.

Write soon.

-A