While searching for my mother, I found the contents of my 30-year old orphanage file in New York City.
A Father James Gusweller who was associated with St. Barnabas Orphange when Sandra and I were there in 1954 located our old files in a basement.
The contents included a letter from our mother that she had written to us almost 30 years earlier!
No one remembered about the letter! In it, she said she had to go away for awhile but she or our father would come back for us!
She wrote, "Whoever is reading this to my babies, give them a kiss and tell them that mother has not forgotten them."
This was the first inkling we had that our mother might still be alive. I wrote this poem after receiving her letter.
One Small Note
Where is my mother in this world?
She left so long ago,
And all I have is one small note
That's treasured more than gold.
"I've had to go away awhile.
I hope my days I'm gone are few.
Kiss Sissy and take good care of her.
I will not forget about you!"
"Who ever reads this note to my babies dear,
Please kiss them both and tell them not to fear."
Where is my mother in this world?
I've wondered since a child.
Did she go away expecting to return?
Or did she go away not knowing where to turn?
Has she thought of me and sister Sandra too?
Has she looked in vain and found the options few?
I love you, mom, though I'm a mother and a wife.
I took good care of Sissy.
But we've missed you all our life.
Where is our mother in this world?
She left so long ago.
And all we have is one small note
That's treasured more than gold.
~Linda Cash (1986)