Becoming Beloved

Correspondence to and from the Philippines

          This is an account of the story of a young girl from the Philippines and myself. This is the story of how we met. Our chance meeting began this way: I was a member of a writing site, having joined to see how my work compared to the work of others. I happened to be viewing the site one day, just browsing, and happened upon a forum where people request help. Most of the individuals were asking for gift points. Gift points are tokens, and can be used to purchase things, memberships. . . etc. I decided to give someone gift points that day. I scrolled down the list till I came to the name: silentssshh. This person was asking for seventy thousand gift points. I had no way of knowing if this person was male or female, and it made little difference in my mind. The request seemed sincere, and I sent along the gift points. The following letters are how I met and named my Sweet Morning Dew, how I came to love her as a father has a tender love for a daughter. Her first letter arrived today. As I was reading it, I thought, She is so cute and sweet.

          Her first letter: November 7, 2005. . . a reply to my gift.


          Gosh! Thanks so much. . . I really appreciate. I'm so thankful. . . I don't know what to say. Thanks

          November 9, 2005. . . the Philippines. You know? It seems your piece speaks to me. You're like my long lost father. Thanks for sharing. I'm really touched. Keep writing.

          November 12, 2005. . . I enjoy writing.com a lot, also. Your little poem, and other things I read from your port, tell me you love to write. I do think you have some talent for the written word. I wanted to thank you for your review of my item: Daughter. I am glad you liked it. In a few weeks I will have a review forum on the site, if you like, you could post some items there for review

          November 16, 2005. . . the Philippines. Sure, can I know your asl? Anyway thanks for the r/r. . . I really appreciate. God bless.

          November 20, 2005. . . the Philippines. May you visit my port? I have my first story, tell me what you think. . . Write on!

          November 25, 2005. . . the Philippines. Hello! How are you? Well, I'm just dropping by to read again your piece "Daughter" You know it's my father birthday. It's just that you make me remember my dad in your heartfelt piece. It seems like your piece is speaking at me. Write on!

                   Hi,
          November 25, 2005. . . This piece brings tears to my eyes whenever I read it. I am certain your father loved you very much, as much as the love you read in the lines of (Daughter). I am so sorry your father passed on. Whenever you think of him, read this little letter, and you will know of your father's love. I will be sending you an e-mail about your story (Rain) later on.
TheCrow

          November 26, 2005. . . the Philippines. Hello, thanks for taking time to edit my work. You know, you really helped me. How are you doing? What's your new work? I want to read. . . Take care, father.

                   Hi,
          November 27, 2005. . . I planned to write you a message today, and I saw you had looked at my poem:The Mailman. I am glad you liked it. I was going to ask if you were able to renew your account on writing.com. I will be glad to help you with your writing in any way I can. I don't have very much that is new on the site. I am working on about twenty things at the same time right now.
TheCrow

          December 2, 2005. . . the Philippines. Hello! How are you? Anyway, I just want to say that someone have given me an upgraded membership for 1 year. I'm really happy this day. I'll wait for your reply. Take care.

                   Hi,
          December 3. 2005. . . I was happy to hear you have managed to keep your upgraded membership. I will continue to read your work. I am interested in your manner of writing. I'll be taking a look at some of your work soon.

          December 5, 2005. . . the Philippines. Thank you for your compliments. Can you help me to edit my work "Rain"? It's not yet finished until now. Can you help me if it's already finished? If it's only okay with you,but if not, let me know. How are you today? Take care. . . father.

                   Hi,
          If I knew your name, I would put it after hi. I am called James. I would be pleased to help with your story: Rain. I can do it tomorrow night. It is okay, I want to help. Could you tell me something about yourself? I read your story about The Burden of a Daughter. I will send you some thoughts on it later. I am doing well today. I hope you are too.
TheCrow

          December 6, 2005. . . the Philippines. Thanks for being so kind. My name is Jennifer. I'm currently a college student taking up journalism. How about you? Can you also describe yourself a little more? I'll be really glad if you would fulfill your promise. god bless!

          December 6, 2005. . . Thank you for the edited work. . . I'm excited to know more about you. Are you writing in your country?

                   Hi Jennifer,
          I am writing from my country, America. Ohio. I install the electricity in new homes when I am not writing. I love to write. I read a lot, also. I am from a place called Appalachia. This is the land I write about. I am a quiet person, also. My real name is James. I am sorry I didn't get to write earlier than this. There was a snow storm here and everything was slowed down. I am very sorry to hear of your father dying. I am glad to know more about you. . .
TheCrow

          December 6, 2005. . . the Philippines. I'm back. . . How are you doing? Anyway, as I have said a while ago, I will tell you more about me. I'm from the Philippines, 18 years old, and female. My real name is Jennifer and I used to use the name "Rain." Remember my character in my piece? That story has a similarity in my life. . . I'm a silent person and if you win my trust, I can open up to you. . . I'm just an ordinary person, yet unique. . . Sometimes people around me call me a weird person. I prefer to be in solitude than to be with others. Yes- I'm aloof, some sort of being isolated. . . My father has been died when I was four, when we have gone for a swimming. Honestly, I'm not sure if that’s an accident, or planned. I'm running out of words, I don't know what else will I say. If you want to know more, just ask me. I'm also interested to know you more better. =ssshh= Take care and god bless

          December 14, 2005. . . the Philippines. Hey. . . how are you? I miss you. Please e-mail me when you log-in. Thanks.

                   Hi Jennifer,
          I am doing well, how are you? Tomorrow is my day off from work, I will look at some more of your writing. How are you doing at your college study of journalism? I missed you those few days when we didn't send e-mail. I might have some new things in my site by next week. . .

                   Hello James.
          December 16, 2005. . . the Philippines. I also miss you a lot. I'm doin just fine. . . My studies isn't fine, I have my enemies. People around me always seem to criticize my capability. I am being affected because of them. . . I'm starting to question myself, if I'm in the right field. Anyway, I'm okay. I hope you're happy today. I know you're busy, and seldom check your mail. I just want you to know that I'm still here, no matter what. My friend. . . Take care.
ssshh. . .

                    Hi Jennifer,
          I am glad to hear you are fine. I am so sorry you have people who criticize your efforts. Just keep on trying. . . You know, I am not really so busy as you think I am. I will check the e-mail more often. I too, will have you in my heart always.
James

          December 19, 2005. . . the Philippines. Thanks 4 everything. . . Do I passed to your standard as a writer? I'm confused, I really love writing, but they told me I'm not for that field. Because I'm not good at it. . . My grammar, language, and so on always seem to be awkward. I want to improve myself, can you help me to enhance my skill? I will do everything to change your goodness. . . Can you give me some suggestions, tips, or activities in order for me to develop my talent? I will read your new works later. Take care... God bless you! Mwaaahhh. . . =ssshh=

          December 23, 2005. . . the Philippines. I'm really interested to know more about your love story, about Terry and you. . . Anyway, Merry Christmas. . . I hope you're happy! Thanks for all the help you've given me. It's really appreciated. Tell me what you want for me to make it up to you. . . Take care, friend

                   Jhen,
          December 26, 2005. . . I will have to tell you the story of Trey and myself sometime later. I don't know if the things I will send you to work on will help you. I hope I can put together something that will help. Jhen, I do this freely and of my own accord. You are my friend, anything I can do to help you will be done, and it will be done as a gift that does not require you to make it up to me. I do it because I care for you. I don't know exactly how much you need help with, so I will start at the beginning. I hope you had a fine Christmas, and that you are well.

                    Dear James
         December 21, 2005. . . the Philippines. I'm so happy that I met you. I'll wait for the activities and stuff. Take care. . . I hope you're happy this day. You know I really enjoyed reading your work. I'll print your other works soon. I'm just curious if "Terry" had been your wife. It's very a touching love story. . . Thanks.
Love,
Jhen

                   Jhen. . .
          December 22, 2005. . . How pretty the name Jhen. . . I am very happy that you are pleased that we met. My heart is full of this same feeling. I will have something for you by the first of the week to help you improve your writing. I am pleased that you enjoy my writing. . . About Trey, she was not my wife, but I loved her. I will tell you about her sometime, if you want to know. I hope you have a very happy weekend, and I am closing with this thought. . . you are in my heart.

James

                    Hi Jhen,
          How are you this day? I have some studies for you. We will start with the word ( am )

How to use the word am.

I am going.
She is going.
He is going.
It is going.
They are going.

Am must be used with I, is must be used with he, she or it.
Are must be used with they.
Three parts of the same word. . .( Am. . . is. . . are. )

The word ( have ) will be next.

I have spoken.
She has spoken.
He has spoken.
It has spoken.
They have spoken.

Have must be used with I.
Has must be used with he, she or it.
Have must be used with they.

Three parts of the same word. . . have, has, had.

The word had is used like this. . .

He had something I wanted. He gave it to me. Now I have the thing I wanted. I gave it to her. Now she has the thing I wanted.

The word help is next.

I help you.
He helps you.
She helps you.
It helps you.
They help you.

Help must be used with I. . . and they.
Helps must be used with he, she or it.

The word miss will be next.

I miss you very much.
He misses you very much.
She misses you very much.
They miss you very much.
If you are saying a person misses someone, you would say,

Caroline misses you very much.

I will close for this time, I hope this will help you, I will send more later.

Always, James

          December 29,2005. . . the Philippines. Thanks! You know exactly what I need. I have to go back to the start, and recall something I don't know yet. It's a very good start for me. I'm so grateful that we became friends. I hope our friendship will not last, thanks for everything. You're rare in spite that we're oceans apart, that we don't see each other, you made me feel special. Thank you, friend.

          December 29, 2005. . . the Philippines. I'm confused with this, can you explain more about using "had"?

The word had is used like this. . .

He had something I wanted. He gave it to me. Now I have the thing I wanted. I gave it to her. Now she has the thing I wanted.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your goodness.

                    Hi Jennifer,
          January 1, 2006. . . Have, has and had are parts of the same word used with different groups of words.

          Today is Sunday. If you are speaking today about something that happened yesterday, you would use the word had. Had is used when you speak of something that has already happened.

          (John had the ball yesterday.)

          If John still has the ball today, you are talking about the present, or right now. You would say, (John has the ball today.)

          If John will still have the ball tomorrow, you would say,

(John will have the ball tomorrow.)

          If you are retelling something that has already happened, you are speaking of the past. When you speak of the past, you must use the word had.

          I had a wonderful time at the movie yesterday. . . past

          I hope this helps. . . if you need more let me know, ok?

          January 2, 2006. . . the Philippines. Thank you, now I know how had, has and have will be used. What about can and could? Will and would? and stuff. . . thank you again. God bless. . .

                   Hi Jennifer,
          January 1,2006. . . I hope you are well today. I read your story: Burden of a Daughter the other day. I wanted to write you a little song from me to you when I read it, but I didn't know if you would like it. We are a long way apart, oceans like you mentioned, but when I read your messages, I can almost see you in your words. The part of you that I can see is beautiful in my eyes. Someday maybe, I will look down at the page, and all of you will be there. Take care. . .

          January 2, 2006. . . the Philippines. I'm okay right now, I'm excited to go to school. . . I know I'll appreciate that song, please send me. You know you had been so nice to me, I really appreciate every single thing. Take care. . . Could I call you father? Have a nice day!

          January 3, 2006. . . the Philippines. I'm so touched with your poem. I'm so blessed to know you, I could feel it, deep within. . . It's so amazing that I met you, you're so precious. I hope we could see each other someday. Though, I don't have my father, you'd showed me that someone cares for me. You'd became close in my heart. May I post it to my portfolio? The piece that touches my heart? I would be glad if I would get your permission. . . Take care always. I love you dad. . .

Love and kisses,
Jhen

                   Dear Jhen,
          January 5- 2006. . . Once, when you asked what I wanted, I was going to tell you there was something I wanted from you. I was going to tell you I could not tell you what the thing was I wanted, that I needed you to give it to me without me asking for it. You have given me the thing I wanted, your love.
          I felt a tender feeling for you soon after we started writing each other. I thought you felt the same as I did, but I was not certain. I am so happy I found you. . . I hope to see you someday, also. You are very dear to me. . . I love you. I will finish my work on the piece I wrote for you, when it is done, you can post it, if you want to. I am so pleased that our hearts have touched. I will send you some things to work with tomorrow, until then, I am sending you my love. . .

always. . . dad

                   Dearest dad,
          January 6, 2006. . . the Philippines. First off, thank you so much for the kind words you'd said. Once again I'm so touched with it, that you've became close in my heart each passing day. You're so kind, I didn't think I could find someone like you. From the first time I'd read your work "Daughter" there was a voice in my inner heart that longed for a father. Your piece has touched me that I couldn't control myself to know you. You're rare. I'm glad we met. I want to know you more. . . Are you living with your family? Do you have a son or daughter? Pleases tell me more about you.
          Always take care of yourself, because someone here in far away country really cares so much for you. God bless you!

Always,
Jhen

                    My dear Jhen,
         January 8, 2006. . . I am so glad we met, also. How I decided to pick your name from the list to send you a gift, I will never know. I thank God that I found you. I want to know more about you, also. I will tell you some things about my life.
          I am from the mountains of a place called Kentucky. I am from a very large family. In the folder in my port called: My Appalachian Works, is the story of my life. Most of the stories in that folder are from my childhood. The stories are all parts of a book I am writing about my life.
          I left my home in Kentucky when I was sixteen years old to make a life for myself. My mother had died when I was sixteen. I now live in Ohio. It is a lot like Kentucky. Here, I live in the hills instead of mountains. I live on the top of a large hill with a forest all around.
          I am a writer, I write mostly about my life. I have a family here. I have a son, James Bracken, age 22, who lives in Illinois, a far place. I have three daughters. I love the four very much. Kelia Reauchel, age 25 is my firstborn daughter. It is for her I wrote the piece: Daughter. She has a port on WDC. She is married, and lives not far away, thirty miles maybe. My youngest daughter is still living here at my home. She is seventeen years old, in the eleventh grade of school. Her name is Tess Anna.
          My middle daughter is eighteen years old. She is studying in a college to be a writer. She lives in a far away place called Philippines. Her name is Jhen. I love her very much. I have never seen her face, but I carry her words in my heart.
          Besides being a writer, I do research about my ancestors. I will close this letter for now, and will write more later.

                   Dad.

          January 8, 2006. . . the Philippines. Thank you so much, I'm one of your daughters. Gosh, I'm so flattered! You know I've told my mom about you. She had seen your picture and told me that you're like my father, your eyes and the shape of the face have similarities. I'll also send you my picture some other time. I'm sorry if I took so long to reply, I'm busy. Right now I'm writing the research paper of my sister. I'll promise to write you soon, and to tell you about myself and stuff. Always remember that you're always in my heart. Take care




in progress. . .




Copyright: James Earl Jackson Holloway and Jennifer Pineda Tria