Letters from Jessica

This is the first day of a new year. I'm thinking about how the past has brought me to today, and how my future will unfold, based on what I do as well as what I don't do. I am looking forward to the new year, but I am not steady about it. 2006 had so many major life changes and events for me, some of which I am still trying to figure out and integrate, that I will begin a new year with more uncertainty than I would have freely chosen if I could have freely chosen...

So today, before I sit down to write out my new year goals and resolutions, I am cleaning and organizing my writing room (until July, called my 'office'). I want to start with as clean a slate as possible. I'm going through papers and paper bags and boxes and files from years past, tossing what I can, and lovingly holding on to so many letters and photos and cards and memories that piece together in some chaotic way to reveal my life.

The treasure of the day has been reading my daughter Jessica's letters, written to me when she was not yet out of elementary school. I can't simulate her little girl handwriting, but have a look at this little girl who is still my very favorite daughter and who will be giving birth to a baby boy in the next few weeks.


HAPPY
Birthday
Mother!

You deserve it!

Roses are Red
Violets are blue
The Lord only knows
How much I love you!

I know I’m a brat
I’m so proud of you
Cause your not fat…
(Not that you were)
I love U
x’s a Million!
Love
Jessica


Dear Mom,
Having a nice time. I wish you where here today
And many more. If you want go to jim and Debbies
And look at there postcard, fell free
You’re love,
Jessica
I love you!


Dear Mom,
I’m having a nice time. Dad
sent me a letter about our
trip. OH I got your letter
on Tuesday. How did you like
my mom sign? I made it in art
with salt and chalk, I have
some others hanging up in my
bunk. I miss you a
lot (A very lot). I have all
the stuff that I need
for 2 weeks. See you
soon. PS I’ve meet a lot
of new people.
All my Love,
Jessica


Dear Mom,
Mom we, wait a minnet sit
Down for this “ok” We just
Won 2nd place in a lip sink
Contsest. (I was a boy). Tomorrow is
The 4th of July and were
having Fireworks and then the
next night is the Dance.
About the lipsink everyone
says the judging
wasen’t fair and that
we shoud be first place.
All my Love,
Jessica


Dear Mom,
I’m still on the porch,
This letter will be
written on the porch, in
the car, and in Cape Cod.
I will tri to remember to
write you more than once. You
know dad is late. Well I
will write more in the car.
My Birthday Party was
one of the best. I think
I hear a cricket out in
the porch. Well now I’m in
the car. Well, I’m on
my way. I’m here in the
camp. We are in 114 land. Well
I miss you a lot. Hope
to see you soon. Like I
said I miss you. Now I
gave to write to Great
Grandma.

All my love,
Jessica

PS I’m home

(Note: Written on Mom’s work stationery)

Subject: Mrs. Kj

She works in options Associates.
She is a very nice person. But
today she went off on a very
long trip for 3 days in New York.
I really do love her. She is a
very nice woman and a very
nice mom. We live in a
large house with a dog
two cats and one bird and
J___. My dad lives in a one
room house (he rents). I miss
him a lot a lot of
the time, I love them both very
much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jessica J.

Note: Written on Mom’s work stationary, put in an addressed envelope, and mailed to me

Dear Mom,

I think that you should
look at the envelope and see
the mark. Told you I could
do it HAHA. I hope that
you bring me to your office
more often.

All my Love,
Jessica

F Block Junior High Poetry Assignment

The night was somber, the air was cold.
I was young, and Shakespeare was old.
We sat down, poetry on our minds,
Looking for the right words, that we never could find.

The year was about 1596, and ready to write I was,
So we continued writing and writing, because that’s
what a writer does.

Finally a poem came out of our stress, and our work
was done.
Now that I look back upon it, I think to myself that
it was almost fun.

The very next night again it happened, a poem came
out of our heads.
That’s why now I get so sad, when I think that
Shakespeare is dead.

In my mind Shakepeare still lives, and for everlong
he will.
What I would do for his writing talent, for that I
would kill.

So, next time you read a Shakespeare poem, think of
the work that went in.
I will always remember Shakespeare, because he was my
only kin.

The power of love: all by itself it really can move mountains, solve any problem, create peace on earth, and remind you again and again of the clearest and most important reason for being alive.

P.S. I love you, Jess.
Love always,
Mom