Dear Madeline,
As your birthday nears once again I think of you more.  You are growing up and will soon be an adult!  I'm sure this is an exciting, yet perhaps frightening thought.  I'm sure your mother has raised you to be a mature and responsible young woman (how I hated that phrase when I was your age).  We would wish you could have also grown up with the influence of your father, but it appears it is not to be.  Life is long, but childhood is short.

I despair of you receiving a gift from us, but will try once more.

We do love you, and are confident that one day we will meet you again so that we can tell you that in person.

Love,

U li si

 

Last weekend I rode my birthday horse 50 miles in 12 hours with your Aunt Eleanor.