Friday's Letters

Dear Jimmy, you have been a wonderful friend to me. Well, as wonderful a friend as a phone can be. I know you're getting tired, and that it's not so much the years as it is the mileage, but please keep living. The fact that you sometimes freeze and then turn off of your own accord make me nervous. Endure to the end, buddy. You can have your final rest once it's time for a free upgrade.

Dear quilting, let's become good friends. You're doing a really good job of reminding me how to accept being new at something, and that mistakes are something about life that I will have to learn to accept. Just don't remind me too much. Deal?

Dear stolen fan, you have made my room infinitely more bearable. I think you were needed here much more than you ever were in the living room.

Dear running, thank you for all that you do for me. I especially enjoyed the hill you lead me to again--you know, the one that is surprisingly long and difficult every time? Well, I guess I've only really run it twice. Here's to hoping the third time's a charm. Or I can keep on enjoying the challenge, that works too.

Dear rain, apparently you remind people of me. That certainly isn't something that I have a problem with, because I sure think that you're great.

Dear home in the woods, you are a lot of fun. Sure, it means spraying Deep Woods Off bug spray all over me every time I step out the door, and weird dreams about grabbing a bear by the ears and kicking it in the snout to save my baby brother, but it's lovely. I watch the fireflies every night before I go to bed, and I see the most darling little speckled fawns come walking through our yard.

Is it weird to crave a place?

Lately I've had an uncontrollable and insatiable craving for Fiji.

Dear Mau Village,

I miss you. I miss everything about you. I miss the love that you showed--towards me and towards each other. I miss the commitment that you had towards supporting everyone. I miss how selfless you are. I miss your laughter and your endless teasing. I miss fighting with you to let me work. I miss hearing you cheer my name as I dug. I miss hauling bags and bags and bags of sand and gravel. I miss the cinderblocks. I miss the Bridge of Death. I miss playing "Some Mario" with the kids. I miss the bus ride to you. I miss listening to that one CD all day, every day. I miss the dance parties and trying to hide them from Mary. I miss your sincere desire to learn more about me and to tell me about yourselves. I miss your singing. I miss your hopes, your dreams, your aspirations, your faith. I miss rugby. I miss red rover. I miss volleyball. I miss eating lunch with you every day. I miss your willingness to give and I miss your gratitude. I miss your company.

You have taught me more than you will ever know, and probably more than I will ever know. I constantly find myself remembering a moment with you, a moment that shaped and defined me. I remember the joy that I felt with you and I just know that everything will be okay. That life is an experience, and it is one that is oh-so-good. I remember that perspective is everything, and we can choose to soak up the good and laugh off the bad. You have taught me to love long, hard, and fierce. To love with everything and in everything--to love without fear. I will forever be learning lessons from memories with you.

I hope that you know that you have a loving and a living Savior. I hope that you know that Jesus Christ lived, suffered, and died for you. I hope you know that He loves you beyond anything we can comprehend. I hope you know that you have a Father in Heaven and that you can return to Him. I hope you know that He loves you as well. I hope you know that your families can be together forever through righteous living and the acceptance of priesthood ordinances. I hope that you will have the opportunity to learn of the Gospel and of the joy that it brings. I hope that, if you ever encounter two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you will listen to them. I hope that you will let their message into your life. I hope that you will accept their message. I hope that you will feel of its truthfulness as I have. I hope that you listen to that feeling.

I hope to return to you, someday, and I hope that you remember me. I hope that a piece of me remains with you as a piece of you remains with me. I love you, with all of my heart. I will never forget you.

Vinaka vakelevu. For everything.

Love always,

Dani

Dear Valentine's Day,

You've treated me well this year. Who in the heck cares that I'm single? Not me -- I've got some dang good friends. My heart is full of warm fuzzies. Thank you kindly, friends.

And thank you, Valentine's Day.

With much love and gratitude,

Dania