Dear 17 year old Maggie, Congratulations on graduating high school and the good grades and the steady job lifeguarding. Maybe you can give me a tip or two someday!
You are heading to your family’s annual trip to Ocracoke Island. They have been going as a family for 16 years of your life. You are adding up those years in your mind thinking you will spend half a year on family vacations before you die at 90 or 100. There will be a time when family beach trips are too hard for you, when you will not be able to handle that much family, and eventually when you will take time away from this vacation. I cannot help you I don’t think.
I just want to comfort you, like anyone when I think I have insight on them that they might not see. I encourage you to forget these words like they are a dream that evaporates in the morning, dew on the windshield. No one can protect you from those rough waters. This is not a place for blame and there is no need for apology. We did our best – you and I and all the people in between. There is no blame because you always will keep your promise with life. This is just a quick note to encourage you.
You are strong in every way possible. This is a theme in your history of being. You will always have a calmness in you and a fire, available. You are intelligent and beautiful. I have good friends just a few years older than you. And I take classes with a number of people just around your same age. Every now and then I will see a young woman who reminds me of you. I want to help her realize who she is, what is and will be a constant part of her. You will always be a writer. You will go into other fields of study, even to the point of agonizing with the question of choosing a college major. Don’t ask me how I know this. Just a guess based on my own life. This is a huge part of who you are. You will also come to identify with other highly emotional people. You will spend a whole year studying Psychology writing papers about your identity with limited truth.
Farmer’s Almanac for your soul. I know you don’t remember me and might be wondering why I am writing this letter. Don’t worry about that too much. I may be a stranger to you here, but I know you well and I am rooting for you! I know this sounds arrogant and/or confusing, but I would rather be me than you. Take comfort in knowing that, ok?
Puravida! a future Friend