I'm eager to share more of my baby brother by means of the pile of letters from him that I keep in my care. He's highly quotable and smart as the proverbial whip. His writing moves me to tears, to laughter, to wonder and thought. If more than a decade in prison has taught him anything, it is that the lessons of this life are as simple as we've been led to believe.
Besides penning multitudes of missives to me, he regularly dashes off ditties to his nephew and nieces, not to mention his mom. Our mom. With little time on this night as I'm short on sleep lately and long on tired, I culled through a short stack and came up with a mini-compilation of gems that are worth reading a few dozen times and committing to memory. His words to my children are often short and simple, especially in their younger years, but they are heartfelt and utterly intended for the edification of their lives. He loves them, extensions of me, a blood-part of him, afffectionately and with great passion for their futures.
Friday, October 26, 2007
From a letter to Zachary: "Dude, you gotta be cool with your moms. Do what she tells you, don't be a smart-ass and talk back to her. Not cool. You never know what's gonna happen in life. Don't do stuff you'll feel bad about later."
Sunday, September 28, 2008
From a letter to Zachary: "Hey doggy. What's up? . . . I heard you got suspended. Pretty stupid reason, but it happens. {He 'pantsed' a friend in the hall at school - as a prank as opposed to humiliation.} Just think about what you're doing before you do it, and who's gonna be looking."
Saturday, June 9, 2007
From a letter to Sarah: "Hi honey. What's up? Got your letter. No more school! Whoo Hoo! Sweet . . . Kissing your ex-boyfriend sounds like a good way to take the 'ex' out. Hmmm . . ."
Saturday, August 4, 2007
From a letter to Sarah: "Hi sweetie. How's things? Got your letter. Loved it. Love all of your letters. You're a natural-born writer. You communicate real well on paper. . . Remember to ALWAYS treat yourself with respect & don't accept less from others . . . guys . . . You're growing up now, so be the best person you can grow into being. Surround yourself with good people."
Saturday, August 4, 2007
From a letter to Ashley: "Hi there. How are you? Hangin' in there? I'm glad to hear Alicia & her baby are okay now. {teen friend} Just be glad it isn't you honey. That's a tough road to go down for a young girl. . . Don't worry about school. You'll do fine. Do your work, stay out of trouble, and graduate. You're a big girl, & you have a family to love & support you. You can do all kinds of cool stuff with your life."
No day listed, April 20, 2008
From a letter to Ashley: "Hey kiddo. 'S'up? How's my girl? You're growing up too damn fast, is what you're doin'. {she was prepared to graduate in a month} I hope that, since you are getting to be a grownup type, you learn to be influenced by the best kind of people out there. Choose your friends wisely and carefully. . . Your mom is one of the best people I know. Not just as [your] mom or [my] sis. Help me out, help her out, & be patient with everything. . . I hope I don't have to get in trouble bustin' heads protecting you."
Thursday, July 31, 2003
From a letter to me: "Hey Glor, what's up? . . . Sometimes I wish I had a typewriter . . . Writing by hand loses its comfort after ten years or so. Especially after doing it every day for a few years. . . Stress sucks. Too bad your whole vacation wasn't more relaxing. . . You can't ever move to California! We're {he was married at the time} getting out of this crap-hole as soon as humanly possible. This whole state is shot out. . . Take care of you. Take it easy, every now & then. Life ain't a race. Take quality over quantity, huh? I love you sis. Hugs for everyone."
Monday, August 10, 2009
From a letter to me: "Hello sis. Another day is here . . . ate like a horse last week {I sent him money to buy extra food as he's underfed and losing weight with the passing of each week}. . . every time I got hungry, I friggin' ate {seems a logical way to approach eating} . . . you're never home - INSERT RASPBERRY HERE {he oft times dials my number more than thrice a day and never gets me} . . . our relationship is the best thing I have in my life sis. It kills me not to be able to present you with a better example of what a brother should be . . . no one else in life has left me with the assurance that it comes with no strings & the desire to help me is heartfelt & makes you happy. . . The tone of your letters is pleasing to me. It seems you're on an upward swing. I hate that there's been so much heaviness to bear in your life these last years. It sucks. . . I'm praying for your friend . . . cancer sucks, in all its many forms & variations. It's so common, yet the touch of it in one's life is overwhelmingly horrendous . . . I miss you very much alot. Muchalot. New word. I've decided to begin my own lexicon & run with it. Why can't I make up my own words? . . . One of these days I'll be out there where you are & I'll work in your yard every day if you want. I will learn to cook YOU meals & desserts for a change. . . . I love you sis. You are good. I will be good one day I hope. Take care of yourself. Be at peace, & know that you are greatly valued by yours truly. Thanks a million, muchalot times, for everything you do, but most of all for who you are. . . Give my love, hugs, kisses, secret-squirrel-handshakes, high-fives, winks, head-nods, bumps, waves, finger-wiggles, toe-taps, & what-not to all."
And with that, I bid you all a secret-squirrel-handshake kind of good-night. Gimme' a high-five with a side of finger-wiggles!
I've enjoyed this post, thanks for sharing Gary's letters. You can tell him that I like his word muchalot. The girls and I usually tell each other "love you muches!" but I think I might start using his new word "love you muchalot!"
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