Widower spreads love in wife’s honour
Man marks anniversary of loss by passing out notes to Charlotte residents
CHARLOTTE, N.C.— If it were up to him, the grief would have kept Hyong Yi in bed for a year. Last November, Catherine Zanga, his wife of 15 years, died of ovarian cancer.
He faced two options as the anniversary of her death grew closer: Yield to the pain or do something about it. He chose to write. The result: 100 distinct love notes that honour his wife, a former prosecutor and police attorney.
On Friday, Yi, a Charlotte, N.C., assistant city manager, walked through uptown, handing out each note he said contained “the story of love and life we had.”
At his side were his two children, Alex, 7, and 10-year-old Anna, a selfproclaimed extrovert who handed out the last batch of notes in front of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Her mother is buried there.
“My hope is that as we share these love notes with random people on the sidewalk that they’ll take a moment to reflect on the love in their life,” Yi said.
“What I wouldn’t give to have one more minute — even a minute — to talk, to hold hands. I want people to take a minute to reflect on that and share a note with somebody they love.”
By Friday, his idea had already taken on a life of its own. Friends helped him build a website. The effort was hailed on social media and, by Friday, the hashtag #100lovenotes was a trending topic on Twitter.
On the street, some who received notes Friday morning shed tears. Some shared hugs. Annette Potts reflected.
“We need more . . . unconditional love,” she said after reading the note. About Catherine, Potts said: “She must have had a heart full of love.”