I was rummaging through boxes of old letters and just came across the FUNNIEST, desk-slapping correspondences.
My TOP 6 letter writers (4 of which are my bridesmaids; the other 2 I would’ve wanted to be my bridesmaids if I could; Nina, kick it up 3 notches girl…I have like 2 obligatory birthday cards from you):
- CATHY!!! Of course!
- Bora
- Nancy
- Ellen H.
- Betty
- Cecilia
OK, now I’m gonna shout out some of my oldest and dearest friends…and hope that they’ll still be my friends after this.
Circa March to June 1995…Cecilia Fang writes… (background: Cil and I shared a journal and passed it back and forth)
“Hiya babes! First of all you must forgive me if I commence to write unparallel to the imaginary lines on this paper. Heh? That sounded pretty professional didn’t it?”
haha So cute! I’d like to think I contributed to your present career in journalism. Just don’t ask your NBC executive producer that same question…”that sounded pretty professional didn’t it?” J
Proof that some things NEVER change…
Cecilia wrote…“Anyways, my guy plans? Well, I definitely don’t have any plans for the future. I don’t really care either. Wait, who am I trying to kid, I definitely want somebody who’ll put their arms around me and kiss me tenderly…<about the senior prom> See Ulysses is gonna take the girl that he likes. ____ won’t probably take me no matter what. Jack’s Jack. He has enough options.
Ro wrote <and still feels this way>…”I always love the idea of two people liking each other at the same time, or the feeling you get when you’ve liked someone a lot, for a long time, then you find out that they feel the exact same way toward you. Ooh, it could just give me goosebumps. I remember Bora telling me once that she missed liking guys and the happiness you feel when the guy you like flashes a glance in your direction (even though its not even to you), or he just happens to sweep against you when passing by. And it’s stupid, but these little things just make the rest of your week, ya know?”
Cecilia wrote…”which reminds me of what Cathy said to me last time. Can you believe this? She said to me that since what I really want in a ‘boy toy’ is sugary remarks and sweettalk all the time…that I should go out with ___<insert a boy’s name> because he’ll totally treat me like that. Yucky! I mean he’s a great guy and all but only one to flirt with. Oh! Cathy didn’t say this Janie did!! On a serious note, Roseann, seriously, am I? (you know, a flirt). I’m totally lost from what my teacher’s trying to teach.”
I wish I could include all the wonderfully colorful diagrams, illustrations and caricatures from the journal…but my lack of computer drawing abilities precludes me. Instead, please imagine stick figures of the following people along with what they say most commonly, written by Vincent Koo:
JANE: What! You talking to me!!
CECILIA F.: Perhaps! Exactly!
ROSEANN: orange 2, orange orange
LAUREN: Nah B!
CATHY: No, seriously, I’ll buy it for you.
CHIGGY (bora): hee hee hee hee
ANNIE (with super long stick figure legs): How’s the weather down there?
CECILIA S.: tissue? Up in my butt!
JANIE: are you gonna eat that?!
DAREEN (didn’t know what that meant): _ _ _
On July 15, 1999, Nancy wrote…”Roseann, I still can’t believe that I’m all grown-up and have to worry about careers and responsibilities! WAH!!!”
On August 13, 1997, Cathy wrote…”so many times I want to tell you just how much I love you, but for some strange reason, I can never bring myself to say it for fear you might think I’m crazy” <2 days later> men! The nerve! The absolute nerve! Purposely evading their God-ordained roles as initiators. Must we always do everything?!
And Bora, I couldn’t find one shred of embarrassing utterance, but here’s something encouraging and still hugely applicable, written in 1996, “Even if school life gets busy, always remember who you’re living for. I hope you will continue to strengthen your faith and continue walking faithfully with the Lord. I hope to see you in heaven where we’ll be able to giggle our heads off for eternity.”
I’m FINALLLY finished organizing my old letters…surprised by the magnitude of letters from people I’ve long since lost touch with, and equally surprised by the resilience of other friendships that have withstood and been strengthened even by the ebb and flow of life. Wow, I’m really humbled and grateful for years and years of drinking from God’s fountain of faithfulness and the seriously amazing and loving people He’s given me. SW, I’ve got a whole box devoted just for you to fill up—the challenge has been decreed. I’m sure I could use this letter-sorting experience and try to construct some artfully written metaphor to life and friendship, but just as time waits for no one, neither does NYC public transportation. Gotta go!
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