Adrienne Emerson to Roxanne Ellison
Sept 5, 2009 21:41:22 GMT -5
Post by Elijah Emerson on Sept 5, 2009 21:41:22 GMT -5
Dear Roxanne,
I just got through writing Elijah a letter that addresses you on some aspects and remembered that I could just write you one myself. Silly me. Anyway, how are you sweetheart? I hope my son is treating you right, though I have no doubt that he is. Clara and Tristan both miss you, as do I. Your company is always welcomed in my home. And not just because you help me out in the kitchen either. I don’t know if he may have told you this already, but Clairebear took one of your lipsticks, I’m sorry about that. I confiscated it, and it is now stashed safely in one of my jewelry boxes out of reach of four-year-old hands. I’ll save it for the next time you come and see me, because then that gives you reason to return. Just kidding, if you want me to send it to you, just say the word and I’ll have it in the mail pronto. So off the topic of my silly little girl, and on to other more important topics. Say, Elijah’s decision to enter the marines? I know how heavy that must weigh on you Roxie, and I’m sorry that you’re feeling that. I know it’s like a game of tug o’ war on your heart, trying to be supportive while feeling so sad that come graduation it’ll be a while before you see or hear from Lijah. Wondering if he’ll be okay and trying hard to push the ideas that come with bootcamp out of your mind. I understand your woes, and I’ll understand if you aren’t at all supportive of it. It’s hard to let go of something or someone you love whether for a good cause or not. Not that the military deserves to have someone so good-hearted, but the nation deserves more people like Elijah.
You know, I’m not sure if Lijah’s ever told you, but his father was in the Army. I met him while I was in high school, and he made the same decision to join the Army, though I always suspected he mostly did it to follow family tradition, he wasn’t so happy to be going into the military, and honestly, I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea either. All I could think about was myself, as selfish as that sounds. I had finally met ‘the one’, you know? That guy that I was to spend the rest of my life with, marry, have kids with, live in a beautiful house with; and here he was going into the army. I could only think about what the distance would do to us, and how I might lose him. It was hard for me to think of anyone else at the time, so I can understand if you share that same woe. But just think about how protective he is of you, and how unprotected our nation is as a whole right now and it’ll be easier to let him go. And when and if he looks you in the eye and tells you that you’re the only one he wants to come back to, and that he loves you, it’ll be easier to remember that you’re his one and only. That he loves you and that’s not going to change no matter how far away he is. Of course, Ethan and I were a year apart, so he asked me to marry him right before he left. And while I think you and Elijah are too young for marriage, I do not believe you’re too young to be in love. It’s so easy to see that he loves you. I think that you keep him grounded, and he needs for you to tell him you’re okay with him going for him to actually make it happen. It’s hard to see him going knowing the girl he’s in love with doesn’t want him to go. And to some extent, I know him well enough to know that he doesn’t want to leave you.
Either way, I know that you’re scared of the possibility of him going to boot camp and then going off to war, as am I. I can’t fib and say that I’m not fretting about that, but this is something he wants to do. And I know a part of him wants to do it to live in the legacy of his father; to make his father proud. So we just have to let him do what he feels is right, and support him in whatever decision he decides to make. I think that we both have to be strong for him to gather strength from. And I will always be just a letter, a phone call or a visit away, I want you to know that. You are like a daughter to me; you’re always welcome here, no matter what. If you need someone to talk to or a good, understanding shoulder to cry on, don’t be a stranger. We’ll cry together. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and there’s no doubt that he’s already a bit afraid of what might happen, even though he’s too macho to show it. I doubt he doubts you, but he might need a bit of reassurance that you’ll still be there when he gets back. Your opinion matters a big deal to him. Anyway honey, I just wanted to write to you and talk to you about it just because I know you must be a bit terrified and distressed. I thought it might help.
Just remember that your opinion matters to him more than anything else, okay? And don’t forget I’m a phone call away.
--Adrienne