Mi-ran’s Morning of Joy

Dear So-yeon,

Warm greetings from Pyongyang!

Today is one of those rare and beautiful days—clear blue skies, soft sunshine, and the kind of light that makes even the buildings seem to smile. We’re celebrating the New Year, and the whole city feels full of music and movement.

You would have loved the parade this morning. My daughter marched with her classmates, waving a flag nearly as big as herself. I can still see her face—so proud, so focused, yet beaming. My husband and I stood close together as she passed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so full of pride and joy at the same time.

Everything was so alive: the drums, the paper flowers, the bursts of color moving through the wide streets. Even the older people clapped along, their faces soft with memory.

I wonder—do you have celebrations like this in your town? I imagine yours quieter, maybe more snow-covered. I’d love to know how the year began for you.

Write when you can. It always feels like a visit when your letters arrive.

With love,
Mi-ran