The following is a letter which I wrote to my two-year old son Spenser I want to honor her memory for him. I read this letter to my students today (I teach Language Arts and Life Skills to middle school students here in California) and asked them to also write to someone special in their lives. Tina always put her friends and family first. She talked about them to me so warmly and often that I felt I knew them and loved them as well. I wanted to inspire my students with Tina's story. This is the only way for me to make some sense out of this tragedy.

November 1, 2000 Dear Spenser,   A very sad event occurred for you yesterday. You are too young to understand now. I want you to remember, however, how much your godmother, Tina Eugenia Yeh, loved you for the first two years of your life. Tina was taken from this world last night in a plane crash. Tina introduced Mommy and Daddy to each other. She convinced Mommy to go ballroom dancing with her to Starlight Ballroom, where Daddy first asked Mommy to dance. Auntie Tina flew to Boston to help Mommy out as her maid of honor. Auntie Tina came to visit you in the hospital right after you were born, and held you in her hands the first few hours of your life. She was the only one who got you to smile in your photos. As she was snapping away with the camera, she always squealed, "Oh, what a flirt you are, Spenser!" She also held you tight the day we took a loud steam engine ride through redwoods and you were trembling with fright from the commotion.

Auntie Tina came over every other week to do her laundry. As soon as she'd come through the door, she'd drop her basket and run over to you, chirping "Spenser!" In response, you danced around the house in circles like you were drunk with happiness. Tina would always bring you treats, whether it was lychee jellies, juicy mangoes she peeled and sliced herself, or a huge sack of enormous chestnuts to roast on New Year's Eve. Tina was an integral part of your one-year old birthday party. It was not only your first birthday, but Daddy's fortieth. She made sure we took a photo of her, holding you so proudly in front of your birthday sign. Tina made an artistic collage of your first year photos for the party. For your second-year party, Tina outdid herself by arranging a railroad track set of train jellos. This tempting display of red and purple choo-choo trains was, of course, a big hit with all the children!

During the two weeks Tina was gone, Spenser, you finally learned to say Tina's Chinese name for godmother "Gan Ma". You'd say "Gan Ma is coming!" as you waited for her to come back from her vacation in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. Gan Ma never heard you call her by that name in person, Spenser, but she is now in Heaven and can hear you say her name. She still loves you very much. You can say her name, "Gan Ma" to show how much you love her and to feel her love for you, Son. You were very lucky to have had her in your life.

Love,

Rosanne Lin Wong
"Mommy"

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