In this episode of Dearest Suzie, we hear from Popi on May 4, 1965, as he responds to three letters from Suzie and shares how much he loved the photos of the boys. There’s no mission report today, no combat update — just a quiet letter about family, missed birthdays, and the difficulty of shopping for gifts in a place where anything nice has to be specially made. He’s still hoping for new photos of Brett and Suzie, still counting down the months, and still trying to be a thoughtful husband and father from a world away.

But today’s episode is different.

With little to comment on in the letter, I begin the first installment of a personal essay I wrote, titled "Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil." Across the quieter days this month, I’ll be sharing pieces of it — a true story about class, mental illness, intergenerational trauma, and the complicated ties that hold people together. It begins at an upscale restaurant in suburban Florida, during the birthday dinner of a woman named Mary — a second-generation American grandmother with deep family roots and a life shaped by both love and regret. Her request? That I write to Dr. Phil on behalf of her granddaughter. What follows is the beginning of that request, and the family history behind it.

What’s Covered:

• The May 4, 1965 letter from Bill Lowie
• Popi’s ongoing gift hunt for Suzie and the boys
• A new serialized personal essay: Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil
• Reflections on trauma, storytelling, and family obligations

📷 Featured Photo: A candid shot from a Vietnamese market — three women, a weighing scale, and the everyday rhythms of life behind the war. The label says Hue, but it may just as easily be Vinh Long.

🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather.

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📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at [email protected] — I’d love to hear from you!

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