Dear mom,

When I opened up the package you sent me, I actually cried a little bit. And made this weird sort of choking/laughing sound? I’m not totally sure why though. I wasn’t even feeling emotional that day.

As you know, I love symbolism, and I think that might have had something to do with the tears. When I opened the package to see the cute purple owl alone in a big brown box, it’s bespectacled eyes staring up at me, I was just hit with a wave of emotion.

Of course, I knew instantly that it was from you. You have the same one at home, but in a different color. I remember the night before I left for school. We were laying on the couch, (probably watching House Hunters) and you left to go to the kitchen for a minute.

When you came back, you had the owl under your arm, fresh from the microwave. I jokingly took it from you, hiding it under my blanket. I knew you had heated it up for yourself, but you didn’t ask for it back, and I didn’t offer to return it.

It was symbolic. You know that right? Sitting on the couch with you made me warm inside, and the little owl under the blanket caused my outsides to match. Symbolism.

I don’t know if you had that exact thought, but I think you had something similar. I stayed on the couch until the owl grew cold and then shuffled my way into my bed. The last time I would sleep there before my entire world changed.

But receiving the symbol of that warmth in mail was like being back at home. I miss home a lot.

I told you last week that they hadn’t turned on the heat in my residence hall, but I didn’t expect to receive an owl in the mail with your note: “use this to keep warm until the heat turns on”.

I will.

love,

Ally