I am an immigrant, a sojourner, a citizen. I love all those aspects of my life. This weekend I've had a chance to connect with a cousin who journeyed with me from our native shores--a fellow Dutch Burgher of Sri Lanka. We've not seen each other much in the last 20 years. That's someones life time. It's half of mine.
I miss family terribly. But I've learnt a wonderful lesson from my parents. They taught me one does not have to be geographically close to be emotionally connected. Thousands of miles may separate us from those we love, but the bond between us can be as strong--maybe stronger--than if we lived 'next door'. The quality of a relationship has little to do with physical or geographical proximity if open and honest communication prevails.
Modern technology helps, of course. Skype (which I really have to start using!), email, facebook are all modern ways allowing us to connect as never before. I remember the weeks which separated one airmail letter from another; how we often longed for a word from a sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother between those pale blue, feather light communiques. I collected the stamps from Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, the USA.
As a child, those stamps caught my imagination. I dreamt one day I would live and travel to those places; hopefully connecting with my family again. But if not, realising I would better understand my English, Sri Lankan, Australian, South African and American cousins. And I would understand myself as world citizen just a bit better.
I have lived a wonderful life with a wonderful family connected across the globe. I wish them very long lives connected by love.
In Peace. LankaBlue2
No comments:
Post a Comment