Letter

4/5/2012

Dear Dad,

Hope things are going well for you. This has been a busy year for my family and myself. Since my last letter, we have had a new addition to our family. Yep! We had a girl. Her name is Ariel and she’s so much fun. Sam is loving being a big brother. He’s a showboat/superstar just like I was (and still am!) so he enjoys pointing out all the awesome tricks he can do and letting Ariel know, “You can do it, too. When you’re bigger.”

I’ve just started grad school. The long-term game plan is to become a Marriage & Family Therapist. Also, I’m training for a team race called One Tough Mudder this fall.

We also bought another house. New baby, new house…right? Go big or go home, I guess 🙂 Randy is fixing it up and we’re going to rent it.

I’m on the board of directors at my local co-op. I created a pretty nice looking spring newsletter for them.   I’ve been going to church more this year. I’m trying to give of my time, talent, and treasure. My major goal this year is to become a better listener. This has been on the docket for a number of years, but I feel I’ve made considerable progress recently.

Anyway…10% of the time the excitement around here sometimes makes me want to drink coffee and hide in my basement pretending not to hear anyone hollering, “Mom!” or “Terra!” 90% of the time, though, I feel pretty f-ing happy. More happy than I’ve ever been.

Its weird. Popular culture would have us believe that the younger and better looking you are the more joyful you’ll be. Imagine my surprise that the shabbier my appearance…white neck hairs, purple claw marks on the sides of my belly, etc…the jollier I’ve become.

There’s more to tell, but the neighbor kids are here and they brought a friend. We’re going outside to sit in the sun and create cardboard box homes for some little toy bunnies the neighbor girl brought with her. Their friend is stalking the battery powered 4-wheeler, that he and his dad threw in a dumpster next to our house, that Randy pulled out of the dumpster and re-built so it is now cooler and faster.

I miss you everyday, but especially on this date each year. I miss your corny jokes, your laugh, your handsome smile and love of the outdoors. I sometimes watch home videos to hear the way your voice sounded. I used to think you chose to leave us, but now I know that mental illness is just as deadly as cancer…and doctors can’t always cure it. Thanks for trying as hard as you did. I am glad for the time we got to spend with you.

See you on the flip-side, when I am completely filled with joy and look like an old, wort-faced toad person.

Hugs,

Terra

PS. By the way, I still don’t like “America’s Funniest Home Videos” or any form of slap-stick comedy, but I would have liked to have watched it with you.

But you probably know that already.