Nervousness was getting the better of me as I closed the app on my phone and waited for my car to arrive.

I’d only been back in the States for two days, and I was itching to meet my pen pal.

Valerie had written to me as part of a chain restaurant’s “send a note to a soldier” promotion. Her letter arrived smelling like citrus in a crisp clean white envelope with elegant handwriting.

After the initial “thank you for your service” message, she’d gone on to talk about herself and her life. She’d joked in the letter that she was probably boring me, but I was far from bored. She was 47 to my 19 years; she was a widow to my never having had a serious relationship; and she was a bookworm — unlike my “avoid most things written” mindset. She was a... Read More