Dear best friend

Dear best friend,

I am sure your two girls are in great hands for the church camp. I understand what you mean about missing their presence, and how it's a reminder they'll be off on their own one day. It is a startingly scary thing for me to think of. The world and the people in it are scary and very unpredictable and cruel at times.

I know we as parents want to protect our children from all negative effects that the world could have on them. It's hard to see them as one day being without us. I hope that the tools, resources and guidance we have given them will serve them well. I believe it will.

Your sweet and kind words regarding my summer blues are insightful to me. I do appreciate your kindness and I do often wonder why it is this way. I believe it has to do with that awful childhood memory I had with my mom. It was during summer when I was 11. I know I told you what happened, and in general I do not like long sunny days, I suppose.

I can absolutely understand why you said the journey is preferable over the destination. I can see how the experience of those moments can be more important and the destination seems to be more of an ending than a beginning.

The poetic verse you mentioned of going back & forth between melancholy and romance makes sense. Too much sense. You expressed it beautifully, And I feel that romance and sadness is a very similar feeling. You pull so much of yourself out to give it to someone, and if they accept it, it's a exhilarating yet intense experience. If they reject it, the pulling sadness can drown you. It’s like tragedy and comedy being two sides of the same coin. Shakespeare was right that even as they look different they are essentially the same thing.

Even as a child and now an adult, the dandelion feels more than a weed to me. My baba and I would use these flowers to make bracelets and necklaces. They feel like love even now to me as a grown-up. Silly, I know.

Love is an eternal blessing from God, I think. I believe in your feelings for unconditional love from your flame. Sometimes you just get that warmth and aura of safety, unconditional kindness and love from someone even just from a stranger, a gaze, a look. It’s true I get that too.

I am so happy to hear from you, my dear friend! Your poetic soul and warmth brings me so much joy.

I can’t wait to see Noah and Michaela in all their glory and awesomeness! I feel their story is going to be very intriguing and intense and I am longing to hear it all! I am very proud you are making progress. Don’t Worry so much about the end. Keep working on their journey!!! Write what you want to read and what the characters want to say.

You can always write them a sequel!!

Talk to you soon!

Love, always,

Melissa