"We are enough for our ancestors and for our children."

Readers respond with stories of loss & immigrant identity; Michelle thinks about grief during Covid; Albert gives an update on the pandemic and shares a scene from the Tale of Genji.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to last week’s tributes to Michelle’s grandmother’s life. We’re so grateful to you, dear friends, for reading and for reaching out.

We wanted to share a few messages we received.

Our friend V. writes:

Today is the anniversary of both of my parents’ birthdays—both born on November 8 one year apart. No longer living but their essence lives within me and in many ways is stronger each year. I wish this peace for both of you as you celebrate the life of such a wonderful woman.

A., born in France to Vietnamese parents, and whose father passed away when she was fourteen, shares:

It got me thinking a lot about my own family, about all the things I know, things I don’t know, things I will never know or understand. I often am amazed or even shocked at changes happening from one generation to another, especially in families who migrated. I sometimes wonder what my grandparents or great grandparents would think if they saw me or my daughter and how my family got …