I used to think my life-story was written with me cast as the “fixer”. In the starring role, I could fix everything life threw at us, and I would continue my reign of control for eternity. Ha! Boy was I wrong. Turns out my story is an ensemble cast overflowing with faith and support, where there are no leading roles. It sounds cliché, but we are all in this together. I still crave “fixing” the obstacles life hurls at me, but now I move forward with prayer, family and friends.  It's not easy.  There is no sugar-coating this life.  But I hope to live it to the fullest by learning the best way to use my gifts, and have a little fun, too!

 

You may be wondering where I got the name for this column. Lots of people I love call me B, or sometimes Aunt B. So, it is not a typo, it is just my nickname. The ‘letters’ part of the title comes from the fact I still enjoy writing and sending cards and letters. Every once and awhile, someone will say, “I still have that card you sent.” or “Do you remember that letter you sent me, I keep it in my desk drawer.” I hadn't really acknowledged the idea that the words I wrote for one moment in time, might last throughout time. I love getting mail, and I think others do, too, despite what the internet says.

 

Maybe we’ll make this column a regular thing? I imagine it will be a collage of my life.  I like the word ‘collage’. It makes me think of my bedroom wall as a teenager.  We had these posters in the high school lunchroom which featured various famous musicians and actors eating healthy foods and reminding us to drink our milk.  I remember asking one of the hardworking lunch ladies if I could have one of the old ones when they switched it out for a new one. My request was granted, and I ended up with Milli Vanilli. This is where 1980s-90s folks laugh and the other readers might have to Google the great “Blame it on the Rain” controversy of 1989. No complaints from 17-year-old me though.  I used it as a centerpiece for my blank wall and started adding words, photos and magazine/newspaper clippings all around it and on top of it.  I think in today’s world it would be called a Vision Board.  My bedroom wall became a collage of all the things I loved, wanted to do and wisdom I thought I had to share – which is what I want to do here with “Letters from B”.

 

In my last ‘letter’ I challenged you to spread joy in our communities and visit with each other in person, without distraction. I hope you are finding time to do this. Let me know if you hear about something good! You will be happy to know I continue to reduce time my cell phone usage. I challenged myself to find one hour and 44 minutes a day, to get my phone time to four hours. I am happy to report I am down to four hours and 46 minutes. So, I am whittling away at the habit, one minute at a time.

 

Talk again soon,

Your friend B