“A 12-YEAR-OLD girl has died in a swimming accident on a school trip to France.”
My heart thuds hard. Where are my children? Who has my children?
In the next beat, pounding harder, I place them: Safe, finishing off our family holiday in the sunshine with their daddy, not too far away.
I call to hear their happy voices. They have been for a long walk, had hot dogs and are now doing some colouring in.
So you see, silly. It’s fine. They are fine. You can stop sweating, everything is OK.
Except it’s not. One family has lost their little girl, Jessica. Already in France, they are bereft, looking for answers to an impossible question: Why did our little girl die?
Distraught, they will stare at the pontoon she was standing on in the lake. They will see her — can you hear her...
Family
Dear Babies,
I don't know how to start this letter to you. I don't want to be ashamed of you, because I know I would have loved you if you were here. I am ashamed though, and being ashamed makes me feel even worse. I have to tell you how I feel, and hope that these words can reach someone else before she makes the worst decision of her life.
I don't know you, little ones. I never will. I don't know you because I ended our relationship before it began. I killed you, and I can't live with the guilt anymore.
I was stupid, young, and selfish. I tried to make a man happy that couldn't live with the responsibility of you. So I went alone, and told myself that it was for the best. I refused to listen to your heartbeat. I refused to see your body and your face on an ultrasound. I refused...
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Dear Ms. Cramblett,
By now, you know thousands of people have heard your story about being impregnated by a donor you didn’t request. You specifically wanted a blonde hair, blue-eyed white donor who resembles your partner, but instead were given an African-American one. As a result, you now obviously have a biracial child.
I want to begin by saying I understand you had a preference and you have a right to be upset that it wasn’t met. The bank was negligent and they should acknowledge their mistake and pay for it. Just as you wanted a child who resembles you and your partner, so do I want a black child that resembles me. But what I don’t seem to understand is your handling of the situation and the claims that this is an emotional and painful experience for you to go through....
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Dear Son,
You are loved. You are worthy.
If there are only two things I want you to always remember, these are it. As I type this letter you are sitting in your room playing with your little wood car.
That's your favorite car. And ironically it is the only toy your father ever bought you. He bought it in your birth town in Brazil, two weeks before you were born.
We left the beach and he saw it in a little local store. He picked up for you because it was handmade. During that moment I actually thought the three of us was going to be a family.
Unfortunately things did not happened the way I dreamed it would, and this week, while watching Calliou calling his father, you asked where your own father was for the first time. I don't think you understood what your question meant...
5,759
Hey Kids,
Feel free to leave your stuff wherever you want this summer. Half-finished smoothies in the family room? No problem. I got it. Socks in the hall. I'm on it. Dishes in the sink? Keep 'em coming. Legos? Everywhere? Love it. Oh, and feel free to drag your blankets all over the house and abandon them the moment you no longer want them. I'll fold them lovingly for you and return them to your rooms.
And doors? Shutting them is optional. I'm right behind you, so, seriously, don't worry about it. I love when the wasps get in and the air conditioning gets out. Who are we to be sequestered in our climate-controlled house? Open door policy in this house. We have endless money.
And it's totally fine to leave your wet bathing suits and towels on any surface, from the floor to the...
2,074
Dear Mom,
It has been way too long since I have taken time to sit down to write you a letter. I'm actually not sure I have ever written you a letter. And I am 100% sure you have never been the subject of my blog. Sure, we chat when we are together and we have pleasant phone calls discussing this and that, but often that is surface stuff. Nothing wrong with surface stuff, I'm engaged, you're engaged, we laugh, I cry (I am working on toughening up a bit), it's all good. We are great at surface stuff like what's going on with the kids, what trips we have planned and what crazy stuff is happening in the world (You might recall, you have to remind me what's going on in the world since I closed my life to newspapers, radio and television years ago. Thank you for the updates).
People that...
2,455
Nana, I'm sad.
I'm sad because you'll never meet your great grandchildren. I'm sad because I took you for granted. I'm sad because I never got to say goodbye.
But I'm happy too that you were always there for me. I'll never forget the adventures and experiences you gave to all of the grandchildren.
I'm happy because I got to know you the longest, and I'm happy that you never ever let me be 'too old' for all the fun stuff.
I'll remember every single pantomime you took me to. I'll remember each story you read me.
I'll try to remember the recipes, although we both know I'll probably give up and Google it. I'll be frustrated when it doesn't taste the same.
I'm sad no one knows your recipie for gravy.
I'm sorry I threw up in your car that one time. And that other time. And...
2,729
Dear Drunk Driver who Hit the Vehicle my Husband Was Riding in Late Saturday Night/Early Sunday Morning;
I won't pretend to know what you were thinking when you slammed into the back of that Suburban and then careened into the truck my husband was riding in at the time. I don't think I can wrap my head around the decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk, drinking or even only "just had a few."
There is no excuse: You were in the wrong.
Now that we all understand that you were in the wrong, I feel the need to tell you a few things about one of the men you endangered with your bad decision.
He is, hands down, the most amazing man I have ever met.
He is a devoted husband, a hands-on daddy, this house's primary dish-washer, a loving son, a helpful grandson, a...
2,312
Dear Tom,
The legal drinking age in the US is 21. Please know that Dad and I will never allow you to have alcohol in our house or in our presence until you reach that age. Please also know that no good has ever come from a group of teenagers drinking. It's a recipe for all kinds of disasters.
If you should choose to drink, you'll not only be breaking the rules of our house, you'll be breaking the law.
If you get stopped for driving under the influence, or the police get called to a party where you have been drinking, you may be in a position where we can't protect you.
Always call me and your Dad. ALWAYS. No matter what you have done.
Don't ever follow up a bad choice with one that's worse just because you're afraid of disappointing us or making us angry.
Will we be...
2,777
The plane has already landed
My heart is beating faster
I’m getting anxious, nervous
Can’t wait to get off the plane
Wanna see, wanna hold her
I wanna be with her!
“Cabin Crew: Doors may be opened”
Long row of people waiting
They seem to take forever
Getting their cabin luggage
The small aisle seems unforgiving
I wanna be with her!
Finally off the airplane
Rushing toward customs
Trying to keep my calm
Inside I’m feeling more anxious
I wanna be with her!
A long row before customs stops me
I have to wait my turn
Can feel my heart pounding
Wondering if anyone notices
I wanna be with her!
Finally! I passed the customs
Off to the baggage belt
Slowly one suitcase after another
Does the horror never end!
I wanna be with her!
Finally there comes my suitcase...
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