Mattie Siegal. Would like to talk to you and see you.

Dear Mattie:

Just wondering why it is so difficult to get in touch with you? Are you O.K.? Are you around for the next two weeks?

I am going away to Mystique on Dec. 19th to Jan. 1st. I will be in New York for a few days in January and then L.A. for most of that month. I am renovating my apartment and hopefully I can move back in February. Would love you to come see it.

What are your holiday plans? I would like to see you before Christmas and/or take you shopping for a present. Please give me an idea what you want.

I tried to reach you before the Thanksgiving weekend. Was trying to find out if you were going to East Hampton, as I sent you invitations to screenings I thought you might like.

This phone and email tag has been going on since our birthdays in July and September.

It has now been a few years since we have actually seen each other.

Since I have turned 70 and you are an adult of 29, I do think the time has come to reconcile and have some sort of communication. We can go on for another five years with this pretend to try to communicate or just not.

I have always tried to be there for you. If that is meaningless to you, then I have failed to express my love for you for 29 years.

I am concerned about you. I know nothing about your life. I have no idea if you are OK or if I can help in any way. What is the direction you are going in? Do you have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction? I find it irresponsible on my part not to know where you are at.

Is your game plan to completely erase your aunt from your life forever?

Family relationships are never easy. I firmly believe we have a responsibility to each other.

I know this is not easy for you because you cannot fully understand my relationship with my mother, father, and brother. There was a very conscious attitude, especially in upwardly mobile Jewish families in post-war America in the 1950s right through the turmoil of today's gender politics that the son or the brother or the husband were more valued than the daughter. There is a very complicated explanation I do not have the patience to put in an email at this late hour... but would be very willing to explain to you.

Suffice to know, that I have worked since I was 16. I have spent my entire life trying to make something of myself and share a productive life with family and friends. I believe you have that same work ethic and drive.

In today's day and economic climate, I believe it is even harder for young people to survive, no less get ahead. I worry that you will struggle for years and not reach a level of satisfaction. Maybe I am underestimating you, as I know you are smart and a fighter.

It would just break my heart if you and I went through the rest of our lives in this stubborn ridiculous anti-social state.

You should not be deprived of a loving aunt because of a situation you had nothing to do with. You don't have that big a family or support team to isolate yourself from me. I have been nothing but loving and supportive of you since the day you were born.

I need you to seriously address this very sad situation between us. We are both missing out on the wonderful aspects of each other's lives.

It's time to try to mend what went wrong and move ahead. You need to take a step forward and meet me halfway. Your loving aunt....Peggy