When I was feeling angry this week, a friend came over and sat with me while I poured out my grievances. When I was feeling lonely, a friend greeted me with a hot mug of tea and made me sober up before driving home. When I was feeling vengeful, a friend traveled 3 hours late at night to encourage me to do the right thing. When I was feeling numb, a friend pulled me along and made me hike in the splendor of nature until my lungs hurt. When I was feeling sad, friends near and far reminded me of how loved I am.
I am currently going through a box of letters and cards that I've saved over the years.
Chances are, your letter is in here. I saved it. I looked at the stamp you stuck on the corner and chuckled that you would pick that one. I pondered the time stamp and felt grateful that you found time to go to the post office. I read your letter over twice before tucking it in my box carefully, in alphabetical order. You made my day. Truly.
C, I thought that I would make a special mention since your letters have filled their own shoebox since you joined the army all those years ago! Even though we wrote about some insignificant things like what we ate for dinner and what we wrote about in our previous letters (haha!), I cherish them. You've sent letters to all five of my previous addresses! I've saved the envelopes as well (the ones that I hadn't ripped to shreds in my excitement). And O, your postcards and letters have kept me alive. Like, really alive when I was feeling dead on the inside. What a gift to walk down lettered memories and see our friendship grow. I'm thinking of starting a new shoebox for you, too, but currently many of your cards are posted to my desk.
Here are a few snippets I came across from my letter collection. I'll keep them anonymous, and in no particular order.
Right now you are in the state of Virginia doing your medical boot camp program. This makes us approximately 4253 miles apart, which is about 1489 miles closer than when you were in Berkeley. -June 21, 2009
I just ordered you a pepper spray. Put it to good use. -December 17, 2009
Don't let the little mistakes and speed bumps (like a B on a test) make you feel unhappy, or worse yet, make you doubt yourself. I love you more than adenine loves thymine! -December 29, 2009
Every time you encountered a less than happy situation, I saw you grow. Most people grow hard when they encounter hardship. But you seek to find truth about God and about yourself. -May 15, 2011
Happy birthday! We hope you come to Iowa for medical school! -January 13, 2011
In the beginning of our program, the director asked us to draw a picture of the "quintessence of teaching." I drew a picture of me giving a child glasses to see the world around him/her. -June 2, 2011
I genuinely would have loved to have had tea with you, because tea with you is always and without exception lovely. Anyways, this is a grossly overgrown prelude to a letter. I always say too much when I'm nervous. -June 2010
My life would definitely be much worse without you...and oh, you provide an endless amount of entertainment for me on a regular basis. -January 13, 2010
Even though I don't know you that well yet, I think you are BEAUTIFUL. I've already seen you broken and vulnerable, yet so completely covered by God's grace. And if that's not beautiful, I don't know what is. -January 09, 2009
I've learned that it could get tiring meeting new people all the time in college, but seeing you continue to make an effort to reach out inspires me to do the same. -September 7, 2010
Connie, you are so good. You are the best girl I know. So many of my past hurts and fears are dissipated when I'm with you. -July 2011
For the first time since high school, I am wearing shorts. I just remembered that time you made me wear shorts to go spinning. -July 3, 2011
Did you know that in the 1950s, you couldn't get shallots in America? Nobody sold shallots! -June 7, 2012
Thank you so much for the book you sent me! I'll write you a letter when I get to Rome tonight. I probably won't send it from there because I don't have Italian postage. Nevertheless it'll still be a letter from Rome, right? -July 31, 2008
I lost my soap yesterday and now I'm sad and will have to borrow soap from other people in the showers. -May 23, 2008
Dere Cony, I had so much fun with you. You are nice and fun to play with. Why did you cut your hair? I want to play every day. I hop you have nice day. -undated
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