We were surprised to receive a quick note from Nadja that she had booked her flights. She would be arriving on January 18th and staying until February 11th. I called my parents from the dome at Living Waters to give them the good news, and then we could all start making plans for her stay. Thomas had promised that we would be waiting for her at the airport in San Francisco when she arrived.
She was apprehensive about flying to the USA, all the way, from the walled city of West Berlin. But since her husband had not been in good health for many years, she was used to traveling alone. Of course it was also a big financial investment, but it was worth it to her, because she longed to see her son again.
I would like to share with you Thomas’ last letter before she left. As I have attempted to translate this long German letter, I am fascinated by his honesty, and how he openly confesses to her, some of the terrible things that he had done when he was a boy.
In this letter, he talks about the subject of “spirituality”, because this is what he had in common with his mother. But gradually their relationship, and the topics of discussion, had dramatically changed.
I think there are many points that he makes, that other people can relate to. Sometimes their communication is heart breaking; to hear of her struggles, and his longing, to reach out to her. I think their letters were very unusual, especially, considering that he was only 23.
