Dear Republicans (and others who do not support Health Care Reform),

I just don't understand you.  All I'm hearing from you is Big Government this and Socialism that.  But that has NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.  NOTHING!!!  Health care reform is about people.  People like me.  People who can't get insurance.  People who have to make every life decision based around the existing system.  People who can't afford to go to the doctor for preventative healthcare.  People who rack up astronomical bills for health care that they can't help needing.  Going into bankruptcy for it.  Sacrificing everything else in their lives for it.  Having pre-existing conditions and never qualifying for healthcare again.  Not being able to live their dreams because they can't risk not having employer-provided health care.

Maybe there are other ways to fix this system.  A not-for-profit based privatized system would also be a great start.  Profit based health insurance makes NO SENSE.  But honestly, the fact that we are the ONLY industrialized nation without universal healthcare...  And the fact that many second and third world countries provide their citizens with universal healthcare... doesn't that start to make it sound like healthcare is a basic human right??  One that all of us deserve?  One that has nothing to do with big government or socialism.


Get a clue.  Put yourself in my shoes.  I'm not an anomaly.  I'm just a person, a relatively healthy person with a few chronic conditions who has been deemed uninsurable who wants to live out my dreams and instead must settle for crappy corporate jobs that provide health insurance because otherwise my healthcare costs will pull me under immediately.  And that's just me.  There are millions more like me.  You're lucky to be you, but most are like me.  Let us have this basic human right.

Thanks,
Me

Dear Vodka,

I made up a song about you today.  It goes something like this:  One Vodka, two Vodka, three Vodka, MORE, four Vodka, five Vodka, six Vodka, FLOOR.  Anyway, thanks for being a good friend.  You and me, we're like this (I know you can't see me, but my fingers are crossed). 

(And no, I'm not an alcoholic.  I just like my occasional vodka soda or three.)

Lots of love,

me

Dear Little Brother,

So many congratulations are in order here.  First, congratulations on your engagement.  You already know how much I like her and how excited I am to have her as a member of our family.  But also, congratulations on getting up the nerve to do it.  I know it wasn't easy.  Especially since this wasn't your everyday proposal.  I know that this is the first step down a long road for the two of you and that it may not be easy.  But I know you can do it.  Best of luck going forward, with her parents, and with life.  I truly wish you both nothing but the best. 

Much love,

Short Stack

Dear Mother Nature,

Thank you.  Days like today make me hopeful that summer will, in fact, eventually arrive.  I got to ride my bike, enjoy the amazing colors of the lake, see the sun, and enjoy sitting on my balcony.  All of this made me smile.  And I need to smile more.  So thanks :)

Love, me

Dear Sleep,

Yeah, it's me again.  So thanks for laying off the crazy vivid dreams, but what happened with us?  We used to be such good friends, yet now you seem to avoid me.  At 4 AM, you're the only one I want but you haven't been there for me.  I miss you.  I would really prefer you to the dark circles that have been gathering under my eyes in your absence.  Please come back to me...

missing you,
me

dear self,

next time you're upset or in a dark place, remember how much better you felt today after you wrote it all down.  free form, rambling thoughts posted on my secret blog that no one knows about (and can't be traced back to me).  although i'm not sure that anyone knows about this one anymore either, but that's neither here nor there. anyway, this free form writing thing is the same as  i used to do on a legal pad at schiff, when my mind would be clouded with all of my racing thoughts after those long international phone calls.  and today it was in that blog.  and i feel so much better.  it's like putting the words down takes them out of my brain.  please don't forget this again!

thanks,
me

Dear February 6,

I hardly know how to write this letter.  12 years ago, you constituted what I still believe to be one of the happiest days of my life.  You marked the beginning of a new era.  A wonderful era.  Of course there were hard times, and I made a lot of bad choices, but you were always there, reminding us of the special bond that we shared.  And now, for these past few years, I've had to live with the ramifications of my worst choice and spend you by myself.  No one there to recognize the significance of you, to celebrate another year of friendship passed.  I want nothing more than to have you back, than to celebrate friendship (or more) once again.  It's consuming me and it's terrifying me.  And I have no clue what to do. 

Just know that I still mark your significance.  I spend you, February 6, thankful for the 10 years that we did have and praying for more in the future.  Praying that I haven't blown it one too many times.  Praying that this time next year, we might be celebrating together. 

I miss you more than words can possibly express.  It strikes me that I miss you a whole lot more than I miss Joe.  Which is how I know that I made a terrible terrible mistake a few years ago.  I am so sorry for not being there for you when you needed me most.  I don't know how to make up for that.  But I understand now what you were going through and I know that I didn't step up in the way that you needed.  And I am so so sorry.  But I would do anything to have you back.  To have this day back.  To be us again. 

Love always,
me

Dear Sleep,

What happened??  We used to be such good friends, but lately, well, something has been amiss.  This whole week I feel as though you've turned against me.  The vivid dreams that woke me by inducing panic attacks were not cool.  And not sleeping at all last night was certainly not ok.  Please let me know what I can do to repair our friendship - I miss you!!

Thanks,
me

Dear Cassie,

You need to get yourself together.  You need to get over last month's heartbreaks.  You need to conquer your fears.   You need to get yourself back and get back to yourself.   And to do all of this, you need to get off the goddamn couch.  Let's try this again tomorrow.

Hoping for a better day,
me