Traffic Fatality on Memory Lane

I read the thread about cleaning out stuff earlier tonight and thought, "Hmmm. This would be an ideal time to clean out that big box of letters under my bed."

Funn things:

• 30-something years of birthday/Christmas/Valentine's Day cards from my family
• Forged Thank-You Notes from my niece and nephews
• Wedding invitations from everyone in the whole world, complete with newspaper clippings and shower invitations (I'm thorough)
• Baby announcements from the people who stayed married

Surreal things:

• Long, long, extremely intense letters from people I don't remember at all.
• Letters of apology from people who hurt me really badly, some of them written years after the injury
• Love letters

Can I address that last list, please?

I found a letter from someone who was a dear friend of mine in college. For whatever reason, I had no idea that on May 7, 1991 that he was in love with me. I just thought he was writing me a letter that said he loved me like a buddy. Bless his heart. He still managed to send me "normal" letters after that. (Are any of you in Birmingham? Will you find Michael for me? If he's married, will you break them up for me?)

Then I found one of the two letters the great lost love of my life sent me in college. I thought he only sent me one letter in college. (This one was also dated 1991. What planet was I on that year?) I can't even talk about that one.

And, yes--long, drippy, sweet letters from people I don't even remotely remember.

I really need to take up drinking again. Right now.

Here's to you gull!

NoHall, don't feel so sad. All those letters are evidence of a richly-tapestried life. You've lived and loved. Everyone feels poignant and reflective about those times that are forever gone, but they've shaped your life. They're important. You'd hardly be who you are had the people that sent you those letters not come into life!

*******

Now go burn every last one of them. No monsters under the bed anymore.

WHAT?! Burn my love letters? What if I don't ever get any more?



Thank you--I probably know that when I'm not beating myself up...

(Thanks for letting me vent!)

WHAT?! Burn my love letters? What if I don't ever get any more?



Thank you--I probably know that when I'm not beating myself up...

(Thanks for letting me vent!)

Oh yes you will get more love letters. Though probably when you least expect it. But I bet they will be really good ones. Really truly honesly.

NoHall...is it that time of the month?

NoHall...is it that time of the month?

Philippa hates when I say that to her.

Philippa hates when I say that to her.

But, I bet you're right 99% of the time!!! I know I was!!!

NoHall...is it that time of the month?

Philippa hates when I say that to her.

Which time? The 28 days of the month when I'm moody and weird, or the 2-3 days of the month that I'm apathetic?

NoHall...is it that time of the month?

:funn: Sorry NoHall, that was funny.

:funn: Sorry NoHall, that was funny.

Sorry? Why sorry? Am I being THAT much of a wet blanket? I like funny...

Philippa hates when I say that to her.

My mom will still say this to me and it still makes me

NoHall, hang in there gull. Vent wheneva you want.

I read the thread about cleaning out stuff earlier tonight and thought, "Hmmm. This would be an ideal time to clean out that big box of letters under my bed."

Funn things:

• 30-something years of birthday/Christmas/Valentine's Day cards from my family
• Forged Thank-You Notes from my niece and nephews
• Wedding invitations from everyone in the whole world, complete with newspaper clippings and shower invitations (I'm thorough)
• Baby announcements from the people who stayed married

Surreal things:

• Long, long, extremely intense letters from people I don't remember at all.
• Letters of apology from people who hurt me really badly, some of them written years after the injury
• Love letters

Can I address that last list, please?

I found a letter from someone who was a dear friend of mine in college. For whatever reason, I had no idea that on May 7, 1991 that he was in love with me. I just thought he was writing me a letter that said he loved me like a buddy. Bless his heart. He still managed to send me "normal" letters after that. (Are any of you in Birmingham? Will you find Michael for me? If he's married, will you break them up for me?)

Then I found one of the two letters the great lost love of my life sent me in college. I thought he only sent me one letter in college. (This one was also dated 1991. What planet was I on that year?) I can't even talk about that one.

And, yes--long, drippy, sweet letters from people I don't even remotely remember.

I really need to take up drinking again. Right now.

Are we related?

Are we related?

Jeez--I hope we're related!

That wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world, especially after what happened after all of you went to bed last night:

I decided to Google the guy who wrote the sweet love letter. He emailed me about 4 years ago, and I think he got married at some point, but I was pretty sure he lives in Birmingham.

So I put in his name, and Birmingham. Turns out he's playing drums again. (He was a really good jazz drummer when we were in college.) The articles that came up listed several bands, so I thought I would Google those.

As I typed the name of one of them, Mingusphere, something rang a bell. I abandoned Google for MySpace and looked up one of my good friends, Rob, who was just teaching with me at camp a couple of weeks ago. Sure enough, there was Mingusphere, with my friend Michael on the drums. They're actually in a couple of bands together.

Looks like I'll be killing two birds with one stone at some point and going to see both my friend Rob (we had actually discussed that possibility a couple of weeks ago) and his drummer friend.

'Twasn't a traffic fatality at all. It was one of those lovely detours that ended up better than the original route...

'Twasn't a traffic fatality at all. It was one of those lovely detours that ended up better than the original route...

Serendipity Fate Destiny

NoHall...is it that time of the month?

Official excuse just in: My doctor had me tested for mono today, after asking me 1) if I was pregnant or 2) if it was that time of the month.

Sorry if I've been weird; it's probably viral. (That's what I say about the first 22 years of my life, too...)

Official excuse just in: My doctor had me tested for mono today, after asking me 1) if I was pregnant or 2) if it was that time of the month.

Sorry if I've been weird; it's probably viral. (That's what I say about the first 22 years of my life, too...)

Oh FTLOG, don't apologize!!! I like you just the way you are. It is my official job to dish out trouble!

someone needs chocolate

someone needs chocolate

I love you!!!

I love you!!!

i'm just here to help !;-)

Someone has said "poingnant grief cannot endure forever". It sounds to me as if you are going to be doing something to remedy this situation. Good luck

Someone has said "poingnant grief cannot endure forever". It sounds to me as if you are going to be doing something to remedy this situation. Good luck

Heck yes I am! My friend Rob invited me to come hear them in September. I co-taught with Rob's wife, and she will be there with the baby, too. So it will be a great time for me, no matter what. I'm hoping to hear back from Michael before that. (If any of you Alabamans are around, holla. We'll have a par-tay!)

I just read yet another thread where RO demanded pix, so here's the one I found. Rob is on the left in sunglasses, Michael on the right, looking just like he did in college:

Heck yes I am! My friend Rob invited me to come hear them in September. I co-taught with Rob's wife, and she will be there with the baby, too. So it will be a great time for me, no matter what. I'm hoping to hear back from Michael before that. (If any of you Alabamans are around, holla. We'll have a par-tay!)

I just read yet another thread where RO demanded pix, so here's the one I found. Rob is on the left in sunglasses, Michael on the right, looking just like he did in college:

You go girl!!! Cute boys!!

NoHall, don't feel so sad. All those letters are evidence of a richly-tapestried life. You've lived and loved. Everyone feels poignant and reflective about those times that are forever gone, but they've shaped your life. They're important. You'd hardly be who you are had the people that sent you those letters not come into life!

*******

Now go burn every last one of them. No monsters under the bed anymore.

Couldn't agree more Mermy, except the burning. Every second (good or bad) has led up to this very moment and the people that we are so I "try" to embrace all the links. It's the only way I can keep sane....oops, have I missed the boat there?

I have a "Michael" from my past too. Have often thought I'd like to reach out but the "flow" hasn't brought me there so may just remain a happy memory and wait for the next adventure. Could that be the Amazing Race, Allifunn?

WHAT?! Burn my love letters? What if I don't ever get any more?



Thank you--I probably know that when I'm not beating myself up...

(Thanks for letting me vent!)

hope you are feeling better!

now, what are your physical symptoms and let's figure out whether you have PMS or some hormonal stuff going on.. we all go through some of this stuff.

did you really go to the doc?

hope you are feeling better!

now, what are your physical symptoms and let's figure out whether you have PMS or some hormonal stuff going on.. we all go through some of this stuff.

did you really go to the doc?

Still feeling puny, but not as cranky as I was a couple of days ago. I don't get so much hormonal as just tired of sitting around at home.

Went to the doc for a prolonged case of what my folks call the "cain't help its." I was coming home every day by noonish with fatigue, headache, body aches, and a sore throat. None of these were acute except the fatigue.

Doc ran blood tests Friday (including a mono screening) and I'll get the results tomorrow. He says that whatever it is, it looks viral, so rest and fluids for me...and more time sitting around at home...