Dear Friend,
I was thinking back to when I had bad times in my life (I won’t get into details on them though). But I thought about what I did in order to deal with them. Whenever I’m feeling sad and lonely, I think bacl to the day that my little brother was born. I was only seven years old, but I remember it like it happened yesterday. My dad and other brother picked me up from school and told me that my mom was in labor and she was having him. I was so excited; I love kids so much, even though I was a kid myself. I just thought of all the fun me and my other brother had and I how that would double now that I had two brothers. We get to the hospital and there he was, lying in the big see-through plastic thing just wiggling around with his eyes closed. I had never seen a newborn baby so I expected him to be bigger than he actually was. My mom was all emotional and my dad was happy about the new edition to the family. My parents even let me hold him (of course with their help). Now whenever something stops me from feeling happy, I just think of this and a smile comes on my face.
Talking about this does bring back memories. I remember my childhood friend who lived up the street from me. We had gone to the same school and our moms even worked together. We hung out almost every day and even spent the nights at each other house whenever our moms would let us. One day, it was like when we were 5, I taught Lisa how to ride a bike. Up until then, she never learned. She was always too scared of falling off or skinning her knee like her brother always did. After a long day of trying, she finally was able to ride the bike and balance it herself without my help. We were so excited and felt really accomplished. Our moms even took us out for ice cream because of it. That day makes me smile too.
Sometimes thinking of good memories aren’t enough to get through the bad times. I had to find another way to cope with things. Some people turn to drugs, alcohol or sex but I turned to sleep. If something bothered me, then I would sleep sleep sleep. This gave me time to relax my mind and not stress out. I stress really easily so taking a nap really helped me calm down and get into my right state of mind. I still do it to this day too, because it truly works. I don’t know if you have a way to cope with things but if you don’t, then maybe you should think of getting something positive that works for you. I don’t know, it’s just a suggestion.
Forever,
Vanessa
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Dear Friend,
With the holidays coming so soon, I have been giving some thought into what I would like to give my family for Christmas. I will probably give my mom that sweater that she wanted from Dilliards, and get some new work boots for my dad. My little brother will get a video game or something like that because he’s really into that kind of stuff. But for my bigger brother, I want to give a much more meaningful gift because we are really close. I don’t have much money so I think I’m going to give him a CD with some songs that I think he’ll like and benefit from. The CD will be called “The Good Stuff” because it has all of the good songs that I can think of. The CD will include:
1. Me and My Drink by Lil Wayne
2. Set it Off by Ne-yo
3. Green Light by John Legend
4. My Good Thang by Pretty Willie
5. Here I am by Rick Ross
6. Time Machine by T-Pain
7. Lately by Tyrese
8. Whenever Wherever Whatever by Maxwell
9. Stay with Me by Mario Winans
10. Me and My Drink by Lil Wayne
I put Me and My Drink on the CD twice because I feel like it is a really powerful song that makes me think. I guess you can say that it makes me a little sad because the beat and rhythm of the song is slow and somber; I’ve never seen this side of Lil Wayne which makes it even better. It makes me get all into my feelings. I’m giving this to him because I think that he needs express his feelings more often; he tends to try and hide his emotions. It’s always good to relax and listen to some music that makes you think over the good times and bad. It seems to slow time down when you do.
I don’t usually give meaningful gifts like that to everyone. I like to reserve these special gifts for the people that I know who will appreciate it. So gifts like these will be mainly for my immediate family which is my mom, dad, and two brothers – the little one and the bigger one. I never got the chance to tell you about my family, so now is good as ever to describe them to you briefly. My mom is very nice and selfless; she’s always trying to help someone in need. My dad is hardworking, and very carefree about life and what’s to come out of it. The little brother, who is eleven, would be considered the “hardheaded” person in the family; he’s still young but he has a sweet heart. The bigger one, who is seventeen, is very goal-orientated and smart. These are just a few words to describe my family in. It would take up pages to describe their good and bad characteristics. Well, I think I’ve said enough for this letter; I’m really trying not to talk too much since it’s easy for me to get carried away with it.
Forever,
Vanessa
With the holidays coming so soon, I have been giving some thought into what I would like to give my family for Christmas. I will probably give my mom that sweater that she wanted from Dilliards, and get some new work boots for my dad. My little brother will get a video game or something like that because he’s really into that kind of stuff. But for my bigger brother, I want to give a much more meaningful gift because we are really close. I don’t have much money so I think I’m going to give him a CD with some songs that I think he’ll like and benefit from. The CD will be called “The Good Stuff” because it has all of the good songs that I can think of. The CD will include:
1. Me and My Drink by Lil Wayne
2. Set it Off by Ne-yo
3. Green Light by John Legend
4. My Good Thang by Pretty Willie
5. Here I am by Rick Ross
6. Time Machine by T-Pain
7. Lately by Tyrese
8. Whenever Wherever Whatever by Maxwell
9. Stay with Me by Mario Winans
10. Me and My Drink by Lil Wayne
I put Me and My Drink on the CD twice because I feel like it is a really powerful song that makes me think. I guess you can say that it makes me a little sad because the beat and rhythm of the song is slow and somber; I’ve never seen this side of Lil Wayne which makes it even better. It makes me get all into my feelings. I’m giving this to him because I think that he needs express his feelings more often; he tends to try and hide his emotions. It’s always good to relax and listen to some music that makes you think over the good times and bad. It seems to slow time down when you do.
I don’t usually give meaningful gifts like that to everyone. I like to reserve these special gifts for the people that I know who will appreciate it. So gifts like these will be mainly for my immediate family which is my mom, dad, and two brothers – the little one and the bigger one. I never got the chance to tell you about my family, so now is good as ever to describe them to you briefly. My mom is very nice and selfless; she’s always trying to help someone in need. My dad is hardworking, and very carefree about life and what’s to come out of it. The little brother, who is eleven, would be considered the “hardheaded” person in the family; he’s still young but he has a sweet heart. The bigger one, who is seventeen, is very goal-orientated and smart. These are just a few words to describe my family in. It would take up pages to describe their good and bad characteristics. Well, I think I’ve said enough for this letter; I’m really trying not to talk too much since it’s easy for me to get carried away with it.
Forever,
Vanessa
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
October 28, 2008
Dear Friend,
Sorry it has been a while since I’ve written you but I have been really busy these past few weeks with homework and getting ready for the upcoming holidays. My mom had me and my brothers clean the guest bedroom out, just in case our Aunt Lena and Uncle George are coming to visit us again, like most of the holidays. While we were cleaning these old boxes out, I came across an old picture of my mom; it is probably the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. It’ll be hard to explain how beautiful it is, but I’ll try. You know when you’re walking by a park in the springtime, where everything is coming out in full bloom? The smell of the new flowers mixed in with the freshly cut grass open up your senses and you can’t help but to inhale deeper to get another smell to remember for later. Everything is where it should be; the birds flying around quietly in the air, children playing on the playground as their mothers watch to make sure they don’t hurt themselves, couples going on walks together as they hold each other hand in hand, families having picnics and playing sports as they wait for the barbeque to be done. These are just a few things that you see at a park that makes you appreciate and love life. It’s that beauty of simplicity that I saw in that picture; my mom with her hair tied up in a white bow, with her beautiful red sweater that was slightly faded and blue jeans that fell all the way to the ground. She looks so young and free, as she danced in front of her mother’s old house and smiled at the camera. I wish I could see that most often. That would probably be one of her “glory days”.
Speaking of that, my brother and Iwas having a conversation about “glory days” and whether or not we will have them, just like our parents have had theirs. “Glory days” are certain events or periods in your life that makes you feel invincible, worthy and puts the spotlight on you. My brother has had his “glory days” with his paintings and other art pieces that have been selected to be exhibited at multiple art shows and events. This conversation made me think whether or not I have had a “glory day”; truthfully I think I have not. I have never experienced anything that made me truly feel invincible, very worthy and had a lot of attention come out of it. Maybe I have had it but never noticed it. All I can do is imagine what they would be like; to be very content and proud of the work I’ve done and to know that my family and friends have seen and admired me for it. It’s probably those kind of moments that you reserve to tell your kids one day, when their old enough to appreciate life and the little things that come out of it. Like I said, all I can do is imagine until that day comes. I hope it’s soon though because something like that would make me feel infinite as well.
With the holidays coming up, it made me think of family and spending time with them. All the Thanksgivings and Christmases are spent with my immediate family, which is just mom, dad and my two brothers. We don’t spend the holidays with our other family because they are either really far away to travel or we just don’t get along with them at all. Aunt Lena and Uncle George stop by every now and then for a day or two to say hi, as they pass through to visit other relatives but that’s about it. My family has never been really big on the holidays; we don’t do the traditional things that most people do. My mom simply makes a big, lavished dinner for Thanksgiving with turkey, ham, collard greens, candied yams, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie….(the list just keeps going). And of Christmas, we just put up the tree in the living room, throw a few lights outside of the house and exchange gifts the morning of. Nothing too different from other families but we just don’t make a big deal over the holidays like some folks. It’s a time to spend with family and to relax, not a decorating contest to see who has the best lit house or which Aunt can make the best cherry pie. I think a lot of people lose the value of what the holidays really are for because they focus on little, insignificant things like that. I don’t know, that’s just my opinion. Well, let me stop myself before I keep babbling on about things. I hope your holidays are as nice and as blessed as mine are.
Forever,
Vanessa
Sorry it has been a while since I’ve written you but I have been really busy these past few weeks with homework and getting ready for the upcoming holidays. My mom had me and my brothers clean the guest bedroom out, just in case our Aunt Lena and Uncle George are coming to visit us again, like most of the holidays. While we were cleaning these old boxes out, I came across an old picture of my mom; it is probably the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. It’ll be hard to explain how beautiful it is, but I’ll try. You know when you’re walking by a park in the springtime, where everything is coming out in full bloom? The smell of the new flowers mixed in with the freshly cut grass open up your senses and you can’t help but to inhale deeper to get another smell to remember for later. Everything is where it should be; the birds flying around quietly in the air, children playing on the playground as their mothers watch to make sure they don’t hurt themselves, couples going on walks together as they hold each other hand in hand, families having picnics and playing sports as they wait for the barbeque to be done. These are just a few things that you see at a park that makes you appreciate and love life. It’s that beauty of simplicity that I saw in that picture; my mom with her hair tied up in a white bow, with her beautiful red sweater that was slightly faded and blue jeans that fell all the way to the ground. She looks so young and free, as she danced in front of her mother’s old house and smiled at the camera. I wish I could see that most often. That would probably be one of her “glory days”.
Speaking of that, my brother and Iwas having a conversation about “glory days” and whether or not we will have them, just like our parents have had theirs. “Glory days” are certain events or periods in your life that makes you feel invincible, worthy and puts the spotlight on you. My brother has had his “glory days” with his paintings and other art pieces that have been selected to be exhibited at multiple art shows and events. This conversation made me think whether or not I have had a “glory day”; truthfully I think I have not. I have never experienced anything that made me truly feel invincible, very worthy and had a lot of attention come out of it. Maybe I have had it but never noticed it. All I can do is imagine what they would be like; to be very content and proud of the work I’ve done and to know that my family and friends have seen and admired me for it. It’s probably those kind of moments that you reserve to tell your kids one day, when their old enough to appreciate life and the little things that come out of it. Like I said, all I can do is imagine until that day comes. I hope it’s soon though because something like that would make me feel infinite as well.
With the holidays coming up, it made me think of family and spending time with them. All the Thanksgivings and Christmases are spent with my immediate family, which is just mom, dad and my two brothers. We don’t spend the holidays with our other family because they are either really far away to travel or we just don’t get along with them at all. Aunt Lena and Uncle George stop by every now and then for a day or two to say hi, as they pass through to visit other relatives but that’s about it. My family has never been really big on the holidays; we don’t do the traditional things that most people do. My mom simply makes a big, lavished dinner for Thanksgiving with turkey, ham, collard greens, candied yams, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie….(the list just keeps going). And of Christmas, we just put up the tree in the living room, throw a few lights outside of the house and exchange gifts the morning of. Nothing too different from other families but we just don’t make a big deal over the holidays like some folks. It’s a time to spend with family and to relax, not a decorating contest to see who has the best lit house or which Aunt can make the best cherry pie. I think a lot of people lose the value of what the holidays really are for because they focus on little, insignificant things like that. I don’t know, that’s just my opinion. Well, let me stop myself before I keep babbling on about things. I hope your holidays are as nice and as blessed as mine are.
Forever,
Vanessa
Saturday, October 4, 2008
October 4, 2008
Dear Friend,
I’ve read over my last letter about eight times and noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything about my family or friends. So I decided to dedicate this letter to a story or two about who they are and what they mean to me. I won’t be able to tell you anything about them that will reveal who I am, but I think you’ll get a better understanding of who I am and why I act the way I do.
When I was 7, my friend was having her birthday party at Chucky Cheese. Before going to Chucky Cheese, everyone wanted to go swimming in the pool since it was in the middle of July. The problem was that I didn’t know how to swim, and never been in a pool either. I stood by the side of the pool and watched all the other kids run in, some with their snorkeling gear and inflatable shoulder pads. After watching them for about ten minutes, I got bored and started to walk away. Suddenly, I heard someone call out my name. I turned around and saw my friend’s dad motioning for me to come into the pool. I told him that I didn’t know how to swim yet; he told me to get in and he’ll show me, like he has shown all the other kids that didn’t know how to swim. I gladly accepted and jumped in. After about twenty minutes of practice, I felt confident enough to go on my own. I looked around for my mom, who was sitting in a foldable chair on the other side of the pool, talking to the other moms. I was so excited to go and show her my new skill. I started to walk across the pool, not noticing that it was harder and harder for me to touch the bottom. I took one last step and fell into the deep part of the pool. I panicked, swinging my arms and feet wildly as I looked up from underwater. The sun had a big yellow aura that I kept trying to grab and hold on to from drowning. All of a sudden, someone grabbed me and pulled me out of the pool. It was my mom. I realized that out of all the people that was in the pool, no noticed that I was even drowning. Only my mom knew; she even jumped in with all her clothes on, not knowing how to really swim either. I think it’s amazing how strong of a bond a mother has with her children. By my mom doing that, I learned that you have to try and help someone you love, no matter what the situation or the risk is. Hopefully I can be a mom like that one day.
Although my mom has taught me how to help others, so have my friends. One day when I was 14, I was walking down the hall at my school when I saw these three upperclassmen pushing a freshman around. I was with my two other friends, Da’Veena and Lisa. Lisa saw this and wanted to go stop them. We reminded her that we were freshman too, so we should just leave them alone or they will mess with us also. She didn’t listen to us and went over to the bullies. She pulled them off of the boy and told them to pick on someone their own size, along with some other cuss words. I was so surprised to see the bullies grab their backpacks and walk away. From that moment on, I looked at Lisa in a different light. Even though the situation didn’t directly involve her, she still felt obligated to intervene because that was the right thing to do. That taught me to always help someone in need, even if it didn’t involve you. It’s just the right thing to do.
Sorry these stories are so long; sometimes I get too detailed in my writing and story-telling. Or at least that’s what my English teacher tells me. Last week, he asked us of what our definition was to feel “infinite”. Everyone in class was really confused as to what that could mean. It was a really random question. In my opinion, to feel infinite is to feel like you can accomplish anything. It’s that feeling that nothing and no one can stand in your way. It’s that last mile you run in a marathon, that great debate you won over in class, that sexy dress you put on for a night out on the town. All these things make you feel infinite and worthy. I don’t know; I could be wrong though. Here I go, talking too much again. I will have to work on that. Until next time....
Forever,
Vanessa
I’ve read over my last letter about eight times and noticed that I haven’t mentioned anything about my family or friends. So I decided to dedicate this letter to a story or two about who they are and what they mean to me. I won’t be able to tell you anything about them that will reveal who I am, but I think you’ll get a better understanding of who I am and why I act the way I do.
When I was 7, my friend was having her birthday party at Chucky Cheese. Before going to Chucky Cheese, everyone wanted to go swimming in the pool since it was in the middle of July. The problem was that I didn’t know how to swim, and never been in a pool either. I stood by the side of the pool and watched all the other kids run in, some with their snorkeling gear and inflatable shoulder pads. After watching them for about ten minutes, I got bored and started to walk away. Suddenly, I heard someone call out my name. I turned around and saw my friend’s dad motioning for me to come into the pool. I told him that I didn’t know how to swim yet; he told me to get in and he’ll show me, like he has shown all the other kids that didn’t know how to swim. I gladly accepted and jumped in. After about twenty minutes of practice, I felt confident enough to go on my own. I looked around for my mom, who was sitting in a foldable chair on the other side of the pool, talking to the other moms. I was so excited to go and show her my new skill. I started to walk across the pool, not noticing that it was harder and harder for me to touch the bottom. I took one last step and fell into the deep part of the pool. I panicked, swinging my arms and feet wildly as I looked up from underwater. The sun had a big yellow aura that I kept trying to grab and hold on to from drowning. All of a sudden, someone grabbed me and pulled me out of the pool. It was my mom. I realized that out of all the people that was in the pool, no noticed that I was even drowning. Only my mom knew; she even jumped in with all her clothes on, not knowing how to really swim either. I think it’s amazing how strong of a bond a mother has with her children. By my mom doing that, I learned that you have to try and help someone you love, no matter what the situation or the risk is. Hopefully I can be a mom like that one day.
Although my mom has taught me how to help others, so have my friends. One day when I was 14, I was walking down the hall at my school when I saw these three upperclassmen pushing a freshman around. I was with my two other friends, Da’Veena and Lisa. Lisa saw this and wanted to go stop them. We reminded her that we were freshman too, so we should just leave them alone or they will mess with us also. She didn’t listen to us and went over to the bullies. She pulled them off of the boy and told them to pick on someone their own size, along with some other cuss words. I was so surprised to see the bullies grab their backpacks and walk away. From that moment on, I looked at Lisa in a different light. Even though the situation didn’t directly involve her, she still felt obligated to intervene because that was the right thing to do. That taught me to always help someone in need, even if it didn’t involve you. It’s just the right thing to do.
Sorry these stories are so long; sometimes I get too detailed in my writing and story-telling. Or at least that’s what my English teacher tells me. Last week, he asked us of what our definition was to feel “infinite”. Everyone in class was really confused as to what that could mean. It was a really random question. In my opinion, to feel infinite is to feel like you can accomplish anything. It’s that feeling that nothing and no one can stand in your way. It’s that last mile you run in a marathon, that great debate you won over in class, that sexy dress you put on for a night out on the town. All these things make you feel infinite and worthy. I don’t know; I could be wrong though. Here I go, talking too much again. I will have to work on that. Until next time....
Forever,
Vanessa
Thursday, September 18, 2008
September 17, 2008
Dear Friend,
Forgive me for sounding dramatic but I am going to write exactly what’s on my mind, in the exact way that I interpret and say things. Hopefully this will be the beginning of many letters. so, here goes:
I woke up this morning with a weird feeling in my stomach. Kind of like when your in a middle of an important speech and forget what your about to say next, and then you pause and think until you realize it. For me, I realized that time has ran out on me. I remember three years ago, saying to myself “I cannot wait to get out of this house!” I would literally count the days to when my “knight in shining armour” would come and rescue me from my parent’s basement. Silly, isnt it? How foolish and naïve I was to think that I really needed rescuing. Three years later, no knight and the days are now down to one. Im packing the last of my things into the plain, brown boxes that hold the memories of these last eighteen years. Somehow, I think of you.
College is a day away and I must admit, I am a little bit apprehensive on what to expect. I have read the articles and heard all the stories on College Life but somehow I only pick up on the bad ones. The intolerable roommate that won’t compromise on doing the dishes; the professor that throws you an assignment and doesn’t even take the time to learn your name; the unbearable homesickness that sends most students on the next bus home. These stories doesn’t exactly have me running to the nearest admission’s office.
I know it sounds weird that I am writing so much about getting ready for college and what to expect. I mean, things like that really do worry me. I think you of all people would understand that because you know how it feels to pack up and leave everything behind, because of all the moving and everything. Growing up in a military family forced me to move around a lot too. I never got a chance to really settle down and meet people. Sotrust me, I know where you are coming from.
I am writing to you because I trust you, and you always seem to know how to make things better. Hopefully things will be better than what it sounds like and college will be the experience of a lifetime. Hopefully. The reason I wrote this letter is because I start college tomorrow and I am really scared of going. I just need to know that everything is going to be all right, that’s all.
Forever,
Vanessa
Forgive me for sounding dramatic but I am going to write exactly what’s on my mind, in the exact way that I interpret and say things. Hopefully this will be the beginning of many letters. so, here goes:
I woke up this morning with a weird feeling in my stomach. Kind of like when your in a middle of an important speech and forget what your about to say next, and then you pause and think until you realize it. For me, I realized that time has ran out on me. I remember three years ago, saying to myself “I cannot wait to get out of this house!” I would literally count the days to when my “knight in shining armour” would come and rescue me from my parent’s basement. Silly, isnt it? How foolish and naïve I was to think that I really needed rescuing. Three years later, no knight and the days are now down to one. Im packing the last of my things into the plain, brown boxes that hold the memories of these last eighteen years. Somehow, I think of you.
College is a day away and I must admit, I am a little bit apprehensive on what to expect. I have read the articles and heard all the stories on College Life but somehow I only pick up on the bad ones. The intolerable roommate that won’t compromise on doing the dishes; the professor that throws you an assignment and doesn’t even take the time to learn your name; the unbearable homesickness that sends most students on the next bus home. These stories doesn’t exactly have me running to the nearest admission’s office.
I know it sounds weird that I am writing so much about getting ready for college and what to expect. I mean, things like that really do worry me. I think you of all people would understand that because you know how it feels to pack up and leave everything behind, because of all the moving and everything. Growing up in a military family forced me to move around a lot too. I never got a chance to really settle down and meet people. Sotrust me, I know where you are coming from.
I am writing to you because I trust you, and you always seem to know how to make things better. Hopefully things will be better than what it sounds like and college will be the experience of a lifetime. Hopefully. The reason I wrote this letter is because I start college tomorrow and I am really scared of going. I just need to know that everything is going to be all right, that’s all.
Forever,
Vanessa
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