week 6 :Marry A Man Who Loves His Mother | With Constance Wu (a podcast review)

"You can choose your significant other, but you can't choose your in-laws". When free-spirit Artis Henderson first met her future mother-in-law — a conservative church-goer — they didn't exactly hit it off.  Henderson s' mother in law is a religious catholic and really uptight with her principle, and Miles is her beloved son, when  Henderson and her husband want to move out his mom won't let her because first she doesn't really pleased with her and two, she believes that man and women whom unmarried shouldn't live together because when a man does that, he's being disrespectful towards his partner. Anyway they still moved out but, Terry doesn't even sleep in the guest room instead she went to the hotel across the town and she please her son with his favorite cooking from their hometown Texas that she can possibly imitate. Henderson grew closer with her mom in law when they do grocery shopping .After that less than a year they get married and his mother started to adjust and accept  Henderson and started to open up personally and told her   a lot about Miles and her past. Henderson husband is a soldier who just graduated from a flight school and the army base will send him off to Iraq. After she and Henderson sent him off to Iraq for his duty, Terry helped her to pack her stuff because Henderson will went back to her parent's house in Florida. Months after that ,an escort, honour guard and casualty officer came to our house to tell them that Miles is gone . It's hard for them to accept and it took time for it to sunk in. All his belongings were sent back from Iraq and his mom smelled his clothes trying to find traces of him, it's hard trying to fill the void and spaces that left by Miles. The were struggling to reorient themselves to live without Miles. "As much as he was for me, he was more to her" That's what Henderson thought, after his death she became closer with Terry.

And there's also a letter from Miles to his wife which is really heartwarming and sad.

Here's the content; 

Dear Artist, 

I love you. I love you so very much! Oh Babe, I don’t think that I could ever convey just how much I love you and how blessed I felt to be with you, no matter how much I wrote.

You are the love of my life. It was such a privilege and pleasure to be your ‘Super Friend’, your teammate and especially your husband. The joy you brought into my life was immeasurable and the adventures that we shared were beyond my wildest imagination. The few years that we were able to spend together were absolutely the best of my life and I owe that all to you.

Despite a job as a soldier that was so demanding on both of us, despite living in places that left much to be desired, and despite some of our adventures turning into near catastrophes (mostly due to me, and most turned out to be fun anyway), being with you made it worth it all and kept me looking forward to every day.

I greatly regret that I had to go so soon when I know that we would have continued to grow together and share our lives with each other everyday, enjoying adventures like only the two of us can. I died doing something that I believe is very honorable, worthwhile, and necessary. I pray that in my life and death I saved others’ lives and kept a few from every having to experience this war. I just regret that it had to come at the price of causing you any pain. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you in any way.

Please do not feel angry or ask questions about why, instead rely on God for comfort and strength always. Live your life to the fullest, and know that I will be looking upon you always and doing everything I can to smooth your way.

You are the most gorgeous, talented and smart young woman I know. I always felt so privileged and honored to be with you wherever we were. I hope I was able to make you feel safe and special whenever we were together. Please forgive me for the times when I fell short of this goal. Know that I am infinitely sorry for any pain that I have ever caused you. Your joy was my number one priority.

Live your life on earth to the max. You have so many options with what to do with your life. Pursue your dreams wisely, with all your heart, with honor and with decency.

I will love you forever, look on you always, and see you soon. I love you. No worries!

Miles Henderson

Here is the link for the amazing podcast!
https://podbay.fm/podcast/1065559535/e/1527598549