Letter from Susie 2019

Dear Mom & Dad,

We have been missing mom for 16 years and missing dad for 2 1/2 years. I can't believe time has passed so quickly.

I was remembering when I went to Japan.  I was so young and such a teenager.  All I really wanted was to be home with my friends; they were having so much fun without me.  I am not sure I was the best exchange student.  I don't think my host mother and father appreciated me laying out in my bathing suit everyday or constantly asking them if I can leave the house by myself.  I am also disappointed that I didn't stay in touch with them. Maybe they were happy to get rid of me.
I wonder how you felt when I left?  We really didn't even get much time to talk on the phone the entire time I was gone.  Wow! I think that would have been tough for me to not talk to my kid for months.

I am thinking about this because Collin is going off to Germany for 3 months to go to school.  Granted he is 21(OMG) which was a lot older than 17, the age I was when I went to Japan.  He will also have a phone and wifi so we will be able to talk with him and even Facetime.  I am still nervous for him to go.  We are going to go to Ireland and he will meet us there when his term is done in June. We have not planned much of our trip yet, but maybe you can send me some signs/clues of what to see and where to go. It will be quite the adventure for all of us.

Love and miss you both,

Susie