Dear Miss Sazbo,

Please accept this letter to request reinstatement to Oaks and Pines for the new semester.

My letter details some of the events including my abrupt departure from OP. I am so very sorry that I left without proper notice. Should any disciplinary actions be required per your decree, I shall present myself at your door as you instruct upon arrival back at OP.

As I hope to convey, I honestly miss being part of the OP class. Please take time to consider my heart felt request to return to Oaks and Pines for the new semester. Mom and Dad agree and fully fund my return.

Thank you, Caro.

Now… please…. this may take a few minutes and if I were hand writing this to you instead of an email, there could well be an honest tear stain on the parchment…

Departing was most difficult. Just about impossible to leave behind my friends and the faculty and staff. One wonders looking back now why a silly American girl would miss such a group but truth be told, ever since Mother’s demand to return due to Father’s heart attack… well, fond thoughts of my friends had never, never ever, left my mind during these most difficult months apart. Oh Miss Sazbo, I ache with thoughts of my friends.

Father did not die, thank goodness. But, he was told, no, that’s not strong enough. He was presented with his death should he continue to run the operations at the ranch and the real estate and banking business in Dallas. Time to go back to the ranch… work the cows and goats… plant a garden… maybe learn how to become a Farrier and shoe a horse or two for the ranch hands. Slow down, enjoy life… sip some of that wine down in the cellar before it turns to vinegar.

I returned home from OP to sit beside my father in the ICU until he was released to a private room and finally when he was released to go home. Yes, the good daughter, Miss Sazbo, such values OP teaches. Amazing some most classic training thanks to Oaks and Pines. Wow!

Caro smiled as she wrote the letter to Miss Sazbo to request reinstatement with her class of Oaks and Pines. She didn’t fully realize until just this moment how much she had learned about life as a student at Oaks and Pines. Good friends, good values….life long friendships. She felt her tummy turn over as she thought about how much she missed her friends and classmates….yes, even the Juniors!

And her donkey! And mucking stalls on Sunday. Good grief…..it had been too long but now Father’s recovery was going well.

Mom gave her blessings plus the Titanium American Express card with Caro’s name on it ! and Balcombe Air had provided the transportation during these now most complicated world wide issues with the virus. Caro had about ½ of her blood drawn during multiple virus tests that all proved to be negative.

Please, Miss Sazbo, please allow me to rejoin my class at Oaks and Pines for the new semester.

Thank you,

Carolyn Ashley