by Ryszard Krasowski

Created on: August 07, 2008

LETTERS FROM MY FRIENDS.
"Dear son! I am very glad that you are all right and I am looking forward to seeing you soon. I didn't hear from you for such a long time that I was worried." These are the words that my mother usually begins her letter with. The words brim over with love and anxiety. And I read them with the same kind of affection. I read all of them.

I remember the day at the airport in Poland when I was saying good-bye to my family and friends. I promised everybody I'd write long letters about my "adventures" in America. But I didn't expect that it would take almost half a year for me to send a few words to loved ones. I found myself in a fix that obliged me to look carefully what I was spending money for. Maybe it sounds unbelievable, but it was better to buy a piece of bread than an envelope, a piece of paper and a stamp. I knew that I had been missing something very important, but I didn't wring my hands.

After a few months things began to look brighter and I could send some news to my family. From then on the written words have been flowing steadily in both directions. Every day I check the mail box and every day there is something for me, my heart beat quickens.

One day I received a colorful catalog with my name on the cover. It was a big surprise to me. I didn't exchange letters with anybody in America, but somebody had found out about my existence, somehow. I thumbed through that unexpected gift and I couldn't resist the temptation to take advantage of making purchases without going to the store. It appeared that I had "friends" all over the United States of America and even in Canada, because there has not been a single day without mail for me and I am moved to the bottom of my heart because of such a great "friendship."

Opening letters with shaking hands, I read warm-hearted words: "Dear Friend!" "Dear Richard!" "Congratulations!" "Hold your hat!" "You have won!"... Such a kindness of people who didn't even know me, but had been showing their readiness to make my life joyful.

Before I came to America, people had been telling me that life was very hard over there, that I would have to work with might and main to be successful, that I wouldn't get something for nothing, but it is not true!

All the correspondence I had been receiving was a tangible proof that they were wrong!

Once I had a dream that I was driving my own car equipped with everything that was possible to make me feel comfortable. And my dream had come true. Somebody was going to give

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