Grandpa's Letter #2

Dear, Opung (grandfather in my other native language) - Lintong Mulia Sitorus

To be honest, I'm not really fond of father's side of the family, and mother's are closer to me. But I really really admire you, and I have the biggest respect a child could give, for you. I know we didn't have the chance to see each other. But you have to know that I really would give anything to meet you and to learn from you. Father said you were great. Even Mother said so.

So, you might not know me, I'm your grand daughter from your third kid, Mutahara. I also have a question for you, why is my dad's name is so long? hehe, I was just kidding, opung. So yeah about me, I don't see my uncles and aunties from your side so much. There's some problems, that I will tell you when I pray at night, I hope you could listen. And I think I got some of your genes, people said I'm intelligent in the matter of speaking skills and logical skills, and I like to learn languages. I heard you were a sworn translator. I think that's very cool.

Opung, I hope you could help me when I grow up, I want to be like you. I want to work in a way where I have to speak to people, and maybe use lots of languages. Mother backed up my decision. Well, basically, she supports me whatever I want to be, but she said I have to really work on being something, not just like learn a bit of that learn a bit of this and turns out to be nothing, or unsatisfying (pretty much like dad I suppose, I'm sorry to break the news for you).

Dad has been doing great. He's trying to be a better father for me. I miss him, can you please guide him how to be a great father. I'll respect him for that. But I have greater respects for you, I don't know why. And sometimes I want to cry for not seeing you. I think I could learn a lot from you. My mom, she's doing great too, she got a job overseas, so now I'm not in Jakarta anymore, pung. That's why I don't visit my cousins so often.

Opung, I googled your name, then I found your book and your quote. That was really inspiring. And I'm crying a bit as I'm writing this, because I feel like If I had known you, I would be really proud, you could tell me about this world from your perspective and I would really like to hear that. And you could teach me languages, too. And from the fact that you have a book and your own quote and you were in a socialist party, that makes you intelligent in my mind.

Opung please pray for me, pray I could be like you, using my life productively, make my own grandchildren proud of me the way I'm proud of you. Once again I have to say, I respect you. A lot.

Yours Sincerely
Your hungry-for-knowledge-from-you granddaughter,
Anasthasya Mathilda

P. S. Dad named me mathilda after your wife, and I'm sorry that she passed away when dad was in high school, I bet you're with her now, say hi for me, will ya? :)