Manuela, if you're reading this, you and your daughter are in my daily thoughts and prayers. Ray isn't far behind. I actually don't know who I think of first, you two or Ray. Thank you for your sweet note. (She said they always considered us (the B-T members) family.
) I couldn't wait to open it up and read what you wrote. I wasn't even expecting a note from you, but it was a really nice surprise. I've never spoken to you or met you in person but any friend of Ray's is a friend of mine. :-) He always asked us to pray for you. He really and truly loved us all in the purest way I've ever seen anyone love anyone else since the woman who came in to our home when I was a child and basically raised me and brothers and sisters, her name was Priscilla - it's Italian and means princess and she was (that's my story and I'm sticking to it, iBob). She was 3/4 black and 1/4 Cherokee Indian. We were her "chillins"/chitlins. She had a doll she named silly gal and when the girls (five of us) were real small and had our hair trimmed she'd pull out a plastic baggie and save the clippings, and then she somehow (
) attach our hair to that doll's head. ha! She also had her wearing glasses that made her look like a female Howdy Doody. Silliest thing you ever saw. We got the biggest kick outta that doll. Hence the name Silly Gal. Priscilla was authentic. That's what you and Ray are and that's what we're aspiring to be.
He was a great example to
all and a much-needed, long awaited welcome relief to me and my brothers and sisters! I have some wonderful, beautiful, caring, unselfish very patient, and non-prideful brothers and sisters because of him. We will continue to thank you and him by following his example as God grants us the ability to overcome.
Thank you, Manuela.
And if you read all this, you are my new best friend.
Love,
Gina
I hope you know you're loved and appreciated by all of us. (Not just Claudia!
j/k Claudia)