Dear Winn -29 October 2016
Dear Winn:
Its mild here along the Front Range for these final days of October. A few days this week its been downright hot. Since my last letter to you we’ve seen Sarah and Will. We flew out to Pepperdine for Waves Weekend. The school mascot there is a wave, which makes perfect sense, but is a little weird too. There were three days of organized events, all which a parent had to pay for. My response was, “I’m already paying tuition here, so thanks but I’ll just hang out with my daughter.” It was Abbey’s first time to see the campus and L.A. and the Hollywood sign and this shopping mecca called The Grove. Abbey came home and said, “I don’t know if I could see myself out there or not. I like Colorado.” Magic to my ears, amigo. Then last weekend Will and three friends drove the via dolorosa from Arkansas to Colorado to visit. We really enjoyed meeting those boys. One of them said “yessir” and “yesmam” consistently, something you don’t hear much these days, at least not out here along the mild Front Range.
Sarah and Will are both having the usual college challenges with classes and friendships but overall they seem to be doing well. That feels really good to see, Winn, to see them flourishing. Sure, it could all come off the rails next week, but for today, its good, and we’re very thankful. Meredith is doing physical therapy twice a week now, plus she’s started walking on the trail again in the early mornings with the neighbor ladies. She’s like Batman in the Dark Knight Rises, getting her strength back in the pit, making attempts to climb that prison wall. She’ll make it, she’ll rise. Abbey got contacts, she’s been eyeing them for a long time. Without her glasses she suddenly looks so grown up. When I see her I hear Neil singing “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon.”
I keep hearing people say, “I’ll sure be glad when this election’s over,” and I think, “Oh, it won’t be over.” We the People are in the far country, prodigals. Some would say we’ve been there for a long, long time, and maybe they’re right. Seems to me we’ve got to have a “come to our senses” moment, or possibly a string of moments where we realize how far we strayed from home. Home as in not some kind of America that used to be, but more the kind of Americans we want to be.
The news this week in the Christian publishing world was Jen Hatmaker’s interview. I’ve never met Jen or read any of her books. I did meet her husband once, and I liked him, and he likes her, so I’d probably like her too. I’ve been a bit curious as to the timing of that interview. Was it just next in the queue? Or was it intentionally aired here just days before the election? I don’t know. I do believe that much in life has to do with timing, we all hope to “make good time” so to speak. I read some of the backlash, some of comments from both sides, then I had to bow out. People say things online they’d never say to someone’s face. According to my code, that’s the mark of a coward.
I told Meredith last night that we’re living in a very impassioned time when people feel deeply about things, the Jen Hatmaker interview just being one example. Passion is good, it shows people care, or are at least beginning to care. Passion also brings to mind the word “fiery” and where there’s fire, there’s smoke. And smoke can make it difficult to see clearly, to see the whole picture. But then again, what do I know?
I’ll have the porch light on Monday night, passing out the good stuff to who or whatever walks up our steps. Who knows, maybe I’ll tell some kid, “Be careful out there!” And she’ll look back and say, “Yessir.” Who knows.
Coraggio.
John
I love these letters. I find myself reading them in the car to my husband, and we smile and laugh and say “yep” quite a bit! Thanks for sharing these with us!
Thank you! I’m glad they generate smiles and laughs and the occasional “yep.”
I really always love these. Especially lately. Grateful for you.
That means a great deal, Lore. Thank you very much.
Thanks for letting us eavesdrop on your conversations. I always enjoy it.