Letter #21: 2/14/21
Stories of A Lifetime Presents: “The Letters”
Community correspondence sparked from the isolating 2020 pandemic focused on easing the burden of loneliness.
Hello, my name is Holly. I am 41 years old and a single mom of a 10-year-old boy named Easton. His father passed away from cancer three years ago. I enjoy writing, I love history, and I like DIY home projects. I miss my grandma, and I know that if she were alive, she’d be so happy to receive a letter. It wouldn’t matter if the writing was profound or merely about what I ate for dinner, it would make her smile. So, my friend, I’d like to write some letters to you. It will help me feel useful and less lonely, and I hope the letters help you and that they spark you to reminisce about your own life, love, and good times.
February 14th, 2021
Dear Friend,
Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend! I hope you know how wonderful you are. Do you have any fond memories of past Valentine’s Days? For me it seems to be a nice, thoughtful holiday that just ends up being a regular day…plus roses!
I enjoy the extra sentiment and effort that comes with such a holiday, but I’d prefer the thoughtfulness year-round, wouldn’t you? I mean I’d welcome a bouquet of roses in my kitchen any time of the year not just in February. The roses appeared, though, and they are gorgeous. We celebrated a few days early because my friend, Marc, planned to be in Upper Michigan snowmobiling for the weekend. It’s interesting how the guys’ yearly snowmobile trip always coincides with Valentine’s weekend. Convenient for them to dodge the pressures of the holiday, right? It’s ok, though. I don’t need the cliché, over-priced dinner out anyway. We enjoyed some homemade zesty Italian chicken and TV time. Being thoughtful and kind because you want to means more to me anyway verses doing those things because the holiday demands it.
To support thoughtfulness and love year-round, I still write little notes in my son’s lunch box every day. Did you ever give or receive little lunch box notes? I think he appreciates them. The note is always a little wrinkled and dirty with a peanut butter smudge or some other stickiness, so I know he at least touches it. The napkin is a different story! I could have the same napkin in his lunch box all school year and it would still be clean. He obviously sees no need to use a napkin. Silly boy. I do have chalkboards and bulletin boards around the house and I leave cute notes and inspiring quotes on them. I hope he finds them uplifting and helpful. I sure do. Plus, I hug him and squeeze his face every morning as we wait for the school bus and I tell him to, “Be safe. Be smart. Be super awesome!” I figure that covers the bases for how I expect him to behave. He has started to tell me to hurry up and squeeze his face before the bus gets here. I dare say that as much as he really likes it, he might be starting to be embarrassed by mom’s attention. I think I will continue on and be embarrassing because maybe someday he’ll look back and remember all the face squeezes and daily advice and be grateful it all happened.
Do you have some great advice that you like to give or a favorite quote? I’d love to hear it. Well, my friend, my puppies are enjoying some new squeaky toys and are begging me to play with them. Remember to be safe, be smart, and be super awesome!
With love,
Holly
If you’d like to write back to me, you are very welcome to.
I will get a PO Box soon and let you know what that is. For now, maybe someone could help you scan and email your letters back to me at Holly@StoriesofALifetimeLLC.com. Otherwise, maybe you’ll find it helpful to just journal your thoughts and write them down without sending them. You do what is helpful to you, friend.
Conversation Starters:
Do you have any fond memories of past Valentine’s Days? Would you prefer the extra sentiment and thoughtfulness year-round? Did you ever give or receive little lunch box notes? Do you have some great advice that you like to give or a favorite quote?
