Dear Great-Great-Grandma:

I know life was hard for you. I know you were hungry a lot, and cold. I want to write and reassure you that I, your descendant, am rich beyond your wildest dreams.

I live in a good solid home, warm and dry. We’ve got a strong roof and sealed wood floors, and big windows to let the light in. Even in the worst weather we are as safe and cozy as a dream. I know you didn’t get to have that in your lifetime.

This is going to blow your mind away, so get ready for it: I have THREE bathrooms. My bathrooms are IN the house. They are clean, comfortable, warm and safe. No cold, dark, dirty outhouses for this girl. And my two kids? They each have their very own bedroom to sleep in. They don’t need to sleep five to a bed like you did, because our house stays warm and dry all night long.

My home has running water, too. Anytime I want, I can turn on the faucet in my kitchen or my bathrooms and get clean, cold water to drink or clean, hot water to wash with. We bathe in giant tubs filled with fresh warm water, every single day. I am not exaggerating! And we don’t even have to share the bath water. When we’re done, we just unplug the drain, and it drains itself. No mess. Can you imagine?

I have warm clothes, and plenty of them. Right now, I’m wearing a fuzzy purple sweater and soft woolly socks. I have a drawer full of sweaters and socks, and I didn’t make a single one myself. When I need to go out, I have a coat stuffed with down feathers and gloves and a scarf and a hat and even nice thick boots. I have everything I could possibly need to keep myself warm and dry. I know you didn’t always have that. I know you were cold a lot.

Great-great-grandma, I just want to let you know: I have plenty of food. More than I could ever need or want. I know you went hungry a lot. Rest assured that your descendants are very well fed. We have this thing in the kitchen called a refrigerator, and it’s just filled to the brim with healthy, delicious food kept fresh and cold, like magic. I’m looking in it right now. I’ve got milk, cream, apples, oranges, cheese, pudding, chicken, sausage, lemons, peppers, greens, jams, jellies, peanut butter, and fresh squeezed juice, and get this: IT’S FEBRUARY.

I’ll wait a bit while you pick yourself up off the floor.

Now, I know that you lost some of your children to death, and that most every other family you knew did, too. I want you to know that most of us now, where we live, expect to give birth to strong healthy babies who live long healthy lives, and for the most part, that’s exactly what happens. My two kids are healthy and strong and full of life. When they do get ill, there is a good clean hospital nearby with highly trained doctors who will not turn us away. More than anything else, I wish I could give this experience to you. I’m so sorry you knew such sorrow.

Oh, and education? Great-great-grandma: I went to college. So did my mom, and so will my daughter. It’s a given. Where we live, every single child is able to go to school starting at age five, all the way through till they are eighteen. No more quitting in the sixth grade because you have to work. I know you wanted education so badly, and I know it broke your heart not to get it. Please know that I enjoyed every minute of mine. I’ve read all the great works of literature, I’ve studied philosophy, psychology, world religions, a variety of sciences, music, art, and so many wonderful things. I wish you could have been there with me!

And by the way, I have this thing called a car. It’s this amazing, miraculous machine, where you get inside and step on this pedal and whooosh! You can go anywhere you like, fast as you please, over smooth, well-paved roads. It’s got soft cushiony seats and it’s all sealed up so that the wind and the rain can’t get to you at all. Can you IMAGINE a thing like that? It’s got heat for when it’s cold, cooling for when it’s warm, and this thing called a radio so that we can listen to music while we drive. It doesn’t require animals to pull it, so when we get home all we have to do is turn it off and go inside, easy as you please.

I could go on and on and on. I know you must be very shocked that a descendant of yours could ever have so much.

I want you to know that I’m not taking it for granted. I know how very lucky I am, and I am so very grateful for all that I have. I lie in bed at night sometimes, feeling so cozy and comfortable, healthy and full, warm and safe. I listen to the rain on my roof and I think of you. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps I am so rich because of your prayers. Did you pray that your children’s children not feel your pain and your suffering? If so, I’m here to let you know: It worked.

Thank you Great-Great-Grandma. I hope that wherever you are right now, you are feeling as rich and happy as I am.

All my best,
ABM

p.s. The $50 Elf Giveaway winner is…

dum-de-de-dum-dum-dum…

One of our very newest Elves… it’s angel!

Congratulations, angel. I’ll be sending it along via Giving Anonymously. Hope you enjoy it!