Day 19: Letter to Someone That Pesters My Mind, Good or Bad

Dear Jack

I saved your life last November. I went with Mindy, Justin, Tyler, and Tanner to get you at the Humane Society. Tyler was wanting a dog or a cat as always. They had already done the dog thing and Mindy said no more dogs. So a new kitten it was! I think it was more of a bribe since Justin was going to Iraq for a year and a new animal was supposed to fill a void for Tyler. I personally have always hated cats, thought they were gross and evil. We looked for a while. Mindy was trying to get Tyler a big fluffy one. I said no that’s too girlie and Tyler needs to pick. So he held several, and I thought you were so pretty and had short hair, so I knew you wouldn’t shed much. I was hoping he would get you because you were so cute and sweet. And he did!! Well you were only 10 weeks old and the people put you in a box, and off to the Sams’ household you went. Tyler named you Jack after Tanners toy, the jack in the box. One week later, I went over after church and asked where you were. Justin had a funny look on his face and looked at Mindy. I said again, where is he? Mindy finally said, “I put him outside”. So I asked, “How long ago?” She replied, “About an hour ago”. Besides the fact that Tyler had thrown you down their flight of stairs and up against the wall in his room. She said you used the potty on her carpet, well she had your litter box upstairs!  L I was in shock! You were so little and it was so cold outside. I just knew you had run away and were gonna get run over by a car or starve or freeze to death! Funny thing is, I don’t even like cats, and not sure why I cared. I ran to the back door, looked outside, and there you were curled up in a ball in the corner of the house trying to stay warm. I brought you back in, and you purred. Your little motor was just a running.  It broke my heart, so I texted my roommate Sarah and asked her if she was allergic to cats. She wrote back yes but why. I told her and she said to bring you home! So, I did just that.

13 weeks old

I never had a pet growing up, but I learned quickly how to care for you. I must say you are spoiled! I’ve bought you every kind of toy imaginable. You eat dry food, but you get wet food once a week. You get fresh water several times a day (thanks to Nanny). Your food bowl stays full. You get treats every night when I get home. You drive me crazy with your constant need of attention; I thought cats were low maintenance. Boy, was I wrong! You don’t shed bad, so that’s good. I’ve never had a problem with you using the bathroom on my floor. Although, I hate having to clean your litter box. GROSS. You are so nosy. You sometimes wake me in the mornings when you climb on my dresser looking for my hair ties. You don’t bother me when I sleep anymore; I think you learned to know better. Instead, you lay outside my room waiting for me to wake. You like to pull up corners of the carpet, which drives me insane. What is up with that?? I love how you look up at me with curiosity. I love how when I get home, you are waiting on me; you climb up and sit in my lap to be petted. You don’t scratch me nor bite me. Overall, you are a pretty good pet. But you still have ways that pester me. You are loved. Even by Nanny, who claims to hate you. I personally think she will miss us both when we move out. J

1 year old

                                                        Love,                                                        

Momma



Day 18: Letter to the Person I Wish I Could Be

Dear Myself,

The person I want to be is the person I am working on. I am a work in progress. I want to be successful. I want to be financially comfortable. I want to be a wife. I want to be a mother. I want to keep growing in my relationship with God. I want to not have to depend on anyone, although I know we all need others. I want to be free. I want to be able to make choices and decisions without worrying about judgment. I want to be able to say what I want without people getting their feelings hurt or people thinking less of me. I want to be able to give in abundance to the poor.

To become the person I wish to be, I have to continue on my path at my pace with Jesus, work hard at numerous jobs, remain faithful, and quit trying to please everyone around me. I need to just put my happiness first.

This was short and sweet, I know myself and I know what needs to be done to be who I want to be and how to get there. Patience is key!

Day 17: Letter to a Childhood Friend

May 2010

Dear Pebbles aka Jacqueline!

I have known you for the majority of my life. Your Uncle Junior owned Lewis Daycare that we attended. Your mom worked there too. Junior and my dad would take us to Redmile with them sometimes. I remember your Aunt Bonnie is who you stayed with most of the time. I remember you had your own phone line and yet my mom would hardly let me even talk on the phone back then, not even to you! LOL. Then after elementary, we went to different middle schools, and a couple of times I walked up to Hi Acres to visit you at the tanning shop. Then high school came and went, never did see you though. You married young and I often saw your ex at Kroger. Funny how we go our separate ways in life, yet everything comes back full circle many years later. Over the past 6 months, we have been able to pick up our childhood friendship right where we left off. Girls night, girl talk, Kings Island, Haunted Houses, one place I’d never been before, and giving wise advice or be an ear when we aren’t quite sure what do to at times. Even funnier within these six months, I go to get my hair cut and your mom was in the salon getting hers done! That same night, we went out together for the first time. Then a couple of months later, I come to find out that one of my good friends is neighbors with your sister! What a small world. That is proof to me, that you belong in my life. Good friends are hard to find. You have a huge heart, sweet & kind person, hard worker, good student, great girlfriend to Chad, true friend to me, beautiful inside & out,and you deserve the best out of life. Here lately you have had some health problems, and I just pray that you are healed from those. Thank you for being you!

Love ya!

Misty

Day 16: Letter to Someone Not in the Country

Taji, Iraq 2010

Dear Justin, I would like to start by saying how proud of you I am. You served our country in the Navy once and now you are back overseas as a civilian to provide for your family. You have made sacrifices for those you love and are a good man. You are my sister’s husband, father to my nephews, and my brother-in-law. I couldn’t have asked God to have provided her with a better man. Although when you 2 first began dating, I wasn’t a fan much. Just goes to show, people change. You are always willing to help with anything. Whether I needed help financially, mechanically, or whatever it may be; you’ve never hesitated to help me. Many times, I didn’t have to even ask. I appreciate everything you’ve done, not just for me but for your family. The first time you left, you missed Tyler’s birth, but I recorded it for you. This time you’ve been gone a year. Your sons know who you are, without a doubt. But in your absence, I have tried to help Mindy when she needs it as much as possible. Which, of course, I have always been a third wheel to you two anyways, LOL. Best part about it is, you never mind, at least I don’t think?? Ha. This past summer you came home for 2 weeks, my car was going all crazy, no mechanic could figure it out. But guess what? You did! You fixed the alternator and belt…its 198k miles and still going strong! You’ve spoiled Mindy beyond words. Anything she wants, she gets. The boys miss their daddy. Just yesterday at moms, Tyler said: Cant I go home and wait for daddy to come home? ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS AND YOU WILL BE HOME FOR GOOD. As the whole FB world knows, as Mindy has driven us all crazy with her status’, you are missed and everyone is looking forward to you getting back safely. This past year has actually gone by pretty quickly, debts have been paid, necessities taken care of, the boys growing up, Mindy learning to appreciate your presence, and you get your job back. See you soon brother!

Love ya,
Sister

Day 15: The Person You Miss the Most

Dear Entire Family,

To those in California: It seems so unfair that you all are so far. Nearly on the other side of the country. We seem to see you only every 5-10 years. The 1^st time I met Grandma and Aunt Bev was so intriguing. I could see myself in you all. I never felt like I looked much like my mom’s side of the family and then to come to California shortly after your visit in 1997, we were able to meet everyone. I am closest to Aunt Bev and her girls. I love yall so much!! J You’ve always been so caring and thoughtful. You’ve opened your home several times and it means so much. I miss Grandma, hoping to see her soon. It worries me that she is getting older and we don’t see nor talk to her often enough. She crosses my mind often. The family reunion we had was nice in 2007, love getting to see everyone, although the last time we seen them, they had changed so much from the 10 years prior! LOL. Regardless of how often we speak and see one another, we are still family, I see my heritage the most in your faces, and you mean the world to me. You all are the closest thing I have left to make me feel close to my dad. Oh, plus I cannot wait to share our family tree and ancestry!!!

To those in Nebraska: Big Sissy and your family keep in contact thru FB and mom of course. We get to see yall once a year usually, which is always great since we are one big happy family, haha. I miss getting to see grandma and grandpa. They are getting older and it worries me I won’t get to see them before I need to. I miss seeing all of my cousins and getting to see their families grow up. I am the only one of the grandkids without child, but I am also unmarried, so that is ok! I miss grandma Marie’s yummy pickles and the REAL eggs for breakfast. I see so much of mom in her siblings. I love that Aunt Fern still sends birthday cards, she is so sweet! Plus, I can’t wait to get to come to meet Lawrence and his family when we come in Dec or Jan. Hopefully Teresa will come too. Even though Wade, Kris, and Curtis dont live in Nebraska anymore, I miss them too. We never get to see them either. Makes me sad, but hopefully in 2011 we will get to see EVERYONE!!

Love and miss everyone!!

Misty Jo

Day 14: Somebody You've Drifted Away From



Prom 2002



Dear Crystal,

I haven’t talked to you since high school. Mindy sees you out and about every once in awhile. She told me you are now married with a child now. I would love to see pictures! I should really come by some time to visit. We used to be stuck at the hip. You were there with me thru my Wayne days, my wisdom teeth & tonsils being removed, every weekend at Champs, and when my father passed. I often wonder how your momma is doing. I remember going with you to Grayson to visit your granny. Once I got my braces, you helped me learn how to turn the thingy on my split palette. Ouch! That was the worst. We somewhat drifted apart when your cousin Kim moved to Lexington. We saw each other less and life got in the way. We both worked to support ourselves and we both had relationships to tend to. I just wanted you to know I still think of you, I miss our friendship, and I hope to see you soon!!

Love ya!
Misty



Fall 1999



Day 13: Letter to Someone You Want to Forgive You

Dear You All,

I did something a several years ago that I am not very proud of. Not many people know, nor do they need to. I’d say it was the biggest mistake of my lifetime. I never got the chance to say I was sorry. I just paid the price in more ways than one. I let a lot of people down by doing something that was out of my character. It isn’t who I was nor who I am. No one else is to blame. I made a mistake and I am sorry. I just hope you all know how sorry I am and have forgiven me. I also hope you don’t look at me differently or think any less of me. We all make mistakes, some worse than others.

Sincerely, Misty Hankin