I sent it

Dear Mom,

I just got your letter and birthday card. Thank you. Of course I
wouldn't throw your letter away unread!

As far as my birthday goes, I don't mind getting older. The only time I feel
"old" is when I go to clubs in Boston and am surrounded by college students I
am one of the oldest people there. I have a really great boss who is going
through menopause. She tells me that getting older is wonderful and that she
enjoys becoming a crone. I am hoping to follow in her footsteps.

One of my friends from NYC sent around an email after the attacks saying
that we should take this opportunity to get in touch with people we've lost
contact with. I had planned on writing you before 9/11 actually. I've been composing this letter for about a month now.

The events of 9/11 around the world made it necessary for me to call you.
I needed to know that Pop Pop was ok. Mentally I knew he was because he
lives in the Bronx, but in my heart, I wasn't sure. It was really hard to
get in touch with anyone in New York State that Tuesday. But I finally
found that my friends in NY City were all right too. It was good to hear
your voice.

Since then, I found out that I got into acupuncture school. It's in Los
Angeles and I'll be starting next September. Steve and I are moving (with
our cat Alexander too) sometime next Summer. The program is for 4 years
and it's kind of like med school. I'll be studying Western and
Oriental medicine and I'll be an Oriental Medicine Doctor when I graduate.

The programs in California are the most stringent - and, in
my opinion, the best in the country. California has its own board exam in
addition to the national exam. If I study there, I can practice anywhere
in the country but not vice versa. That's why I chose a school in CA. And
I'm pretty happy to say that I only applied to my first choice and got in.

Yo San University has an extensive Community Outreach program with an AIDS
clinic, a school for Special Education and a clinic for low income
families. This appeals to the activist in me. And they have a strong Chi
Development program. Since I've been studying Chi Gong (related to Tai Chi)
for years, this is very important to me.

Acupuncture has made such a positive difference in my life. I no longer
need heavy painkillers for my endometriosis thanks to acupuncture, my
migraines are less severe and less frequent, and my overall health has
improved. My hope is that I can help other women with acupuncture. I'm probably
going to specialize in Women's Health.

Basically, I'll be on the East Coast for another 10 months or so. If you and I want to work on our relationship, we had better do so now.
I want to have a mom again. It hurts not having one. My mother-in-law,
Marietta, is awesome and so kind and helpful and considers me to be her
second daughter. But she's not my mom.

I'm sure that this is as tough for you as it is for me. If there is
someway we can see each other despite our differences, I would like that.
But know this: I will not attend family functions to which Steve is not
invited. I will not come to your house if he is not welcome. He is part of
my family now.

I would be willing to meet you halfway (figuratively). Maybe we could meet
for coffee at a diner or something. I'd drive to Rockland for that. You
had suggested that we meet at Marc's place to say our goodbyes. Maybe we
could meet there earlier than that.

I still love you.