Letter from Tisa July 25 1995
To the fam,
Growing up, we were all loved the same. Where one would go, the rest would follow behind. We were taught strength, compassion, love, and gratefulness. As our faces have changed and our hearts are growing bigger, we are taking different paths. Changing as we look behind us and there aren’t eyes looking back at us, but the back of each other‘s heads going in different directions. We choose our paths and blaze them with our individual fires. Dad said the most profound thing that I have ever heard “My kids want to go set the world on fire, but they keep coming home for matches.“ I translated this match book into being what we were coming home for.
For dad‘s jokes.
For mom’s smiles.
For Emily’s warm understanding.
For Esther‘s creative ideas.
For Eugene’s catchphrases.
For Paul’s gentle heart.
For Mary’s infectious giggle.
For Rachel’s sparkling heart.
For Sharon’s hysteric‘s.
For Joshua’s strength.
For Johnny’s brilliant mind.
We each have our gifts and each other. If our ashes get cold, or we just need a spark or a match like,
Emily,
Esther,
Gene,
Paul,
Mary,
Rachel,
Sharon,
Josh,
Johnny,
and mom and dad
we need look no further. We are Caruso’s! And if we truly understand what that means, break out the marshmallows, I smell fire! And yet each characteristic I described is present in all of us. But each of us is unique in our own thoughts and dreams and realities.