Jeremy Popkin

May 26

Dear Friends of Maggi,

We continue to be comforted by the wonderful messages that you are sending to this site. In return, we would like to share with you something from Maggi's childhood that we found in her house. In 1957-58, our family spent a year in the Netherlands. Maggi was in second grade. For her eighth birthday, her school class made a little autograph album for her. Most of the entries are in Dutch, which was, believe it or not, Maggi's first foreign language, but her teacher wrote this in English: "Dear Margaret, Now you're leaving our school and the Netherlands. I like to say, that we were glad to have you with us. You've been a good friend for all of us. Always gay and kind. Try to be, as you've always been, sunny and gentle, then I'll be sure that you continue making friends, wherever you go." (I wish I could also post the charming picture the teacher drew, of a group of children in colorful costumes surrounding Maggi.) I'm sure you will agree that Maggi grew up as her teacher hoped, and really did make friends all over the world.

Love to all, Jeremy (Maggi's brother)