I went over to Davida Berger's house today where Jennifer has been staying since her guardian, Abitimo, went back to Uganda a couple of weeks ago. Jennifer was getting a goodbye visit from the two families in Maryland who hosted her during much of her facial surgery at Fairfax Inova Hospital in northern Virginia. Jennifer formed close friendships with the Trost-Magnussens and the Goldbergs, especially Maddie Magnussen and Madeline Goldberg, both her age. I think, and this is only my armchair analysis, that with them, Jennifer felt part of a group for the first time in her life. Jennifer felt like a normal kid with them, not a war child, not a burn victim. Just a kid. okay, just a teen.
I missed the moment when the families arrived, but Michael Wirtz, the photographer who is coming with us to Uganda, was there and said Jennifer was ecstatic. The three girls were sitting around painting their toenails and talking by the time I got there. I went with the families and Jennifer to lunch at that diner on Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy. Myself and the two mothers found plenty to talk about. But the other side of the table with the three girls was nearly silent. Maybe we three adults stifled the conversation.
Jennifer is really being pulled by emotions right now. One minute she is buoyant about being reunited with her mother and siblings in Uganda. The next she seems sad at the thought of leaving behind her friends. Both emotions are good in my book. They mean she still feels connected to Uganda and and made connections here in the United States.
Just as I got there late, I left them early at the diner to finish a million tasks I have to do before our flight Tuesday. The goodbyes will be hard, but the families hope to stay in touch with Jennifer and help support her family. If she does well in school, they may help her return to the U.S. for a visit. I think that will be of little comfort now for Jennifer. Tonight at least, I think she will feel more sadness than excitement. But, as she has repeatedly learned since I met her that December day in 2004, who knows what tomorrow may bring.
