Dear Noah, hello from Honduras! I hope you learn to speak Spanish while you are young, when it’s easier to pick it up. There are parrots everywhere. Their eyes are black as stones, and they are so smart! They even know who I am. One of them, a green one named Mango, greets me every time I come home from work. Hello Poppy! I could swear he waits for me there all day long. He talks, but he doesn’t say much I can understand. I’ll try to teach him to say your name. I feed him beans and rice and bananas. He especially loves coconut Johnny cakes. I hope you are doing well in school. I’ll bet you are smart like your mom. Give her a hug for me.

—Yours, Aunt Poppy

Dear Noah, a stray cat has moved in with me. I’m trying to think of a name for her. I’m calling her Little Mama for now. She’s got a white star on her forehead. Any ideas for a better name?

—Yours, Aunt Poppy

Dear Noah, the surf here is very rough. Mother moon is full and the tide is so high that it washed out the dirt road to this side of the island. We can’t surf or swim because the shore is rocky. It rains almost every day but it’s warm. I love listening to the red howler monkeys scampering around in the mangroves at night. That’s why I’m sending this monkey hand puppet. Have fun with it!

Dear Noah,

I hope you are learning to practice gratitude. I hope you are thankful for your beautiful face and your healthy body and your mother and grandparents and all the people who love you so much, like me. I can’t wait to see you and connect. Hopefully soon!

May our spirits mingle,

Aunt Poppy