A letter from December 27th, 2020

Dear FutureMe, I'm different now. I'm 16 years old, will be 17 in 4 months. I'm finally a teenager. I go to parties, go out almost every night, went on my first date yesterday, and have had my first kiss. This summer was so fun. Going to tfti parties (remember ike?) and dancing like nobody's watching have been some of the most fun nights of my life. Jumping off the roof of someone's house (fully clothed, mind you) into their pool was a memory that will last a lifetime. I love being friends with San Clemente people now, I love going to their giant houses and feeling like a normal teenager. A lot has changed in the last 6 months. I've grown up. My best friend is truly my favorite person. Lauren Jager is someone that will be in my life forever. Kendalyn Harris is the sweetest girl I know and I hope you're still in contact with her when you read this. If you haven't sent that letter you wrote to her when you went to the temple with Lauren and Kendalyn that one day, send it today. Remember Carter Briggs? I want to say I love him. Maybe it's just infatuation. Whatever it is, he's the boy I'll measure everyone against. The feeling I get when I'm with him makes me infinitely happy, instantly content. He has a girlfriend. It sucks. We went to LA together. We drove all over Dana Point and up PCH, then we drove to Griffith Observatory. I don't want to be an annoying teenage girl, but it really feels like he's the one. We just click. He almost kissed me in my car a few Saturday's ago. He's in love with his girlfriend, though. I keep having the sinking feeling he's going to marry her, that he's going to live his life with her and not me. I hope you're happy wherever you are. Columbia or Oxford... I hope you're there. I hope you always remember who you are. I hope you read your patriarchal blessing as much as I read it now. It's so important to me. My first kiss was with a boy named Dane Blout. Do you remember walking up to him at that kegger and grabbing him and kissing him? Lauren has a video of it if you need a refresher. You're going to read this and laugh. I hope you're reminiscing about all the good times you had with your best friends in high school. I'm proud of the person I've become. Captain of mock trial, president of my church class, NHS member, 4.8 GPA... I hope it's enough. Guess who I'm going to the temple with for sunset? Mr. Carter Briggs himself. I wonder if you still know him. I wonder if you're reading this with him, I wonder if you'll reach out to him after reading this. He's funny. You probably don't remember him too much. I hope you remember your worth and never settle for some scumbag who throws you around like everyone else seems to like to do. I'm still saying my first date was going to Griffith Observatory. Much cooler than what happened last night. Yes, yes, I went to the driving range with Dane Powers, Ellie, and Mitchell. Not a fan of Dane. He's very bland. White bread type of guy. Vanilla. Not much compared to Carter. I know I'm spending too much time talking about him. It's just hard when some of the best times of my life so far have been spent with him. Lauren is my favorite person, still, don't worry, Lauren. I hope she's looking over your shoulder reading this with you in your little apartment in Europe. Anyways.... this was a lot of rambling. It was a good exercise, though. I guess I should mention that some of the greatest times have also been driving up to LA (without Kelly and Clint's knowledge hahaha). I love the feeling of being free. I just want to get out and see the world, experience new things, new cultures, new people. Travel as much as you can. You're 21!!!! Live it up! This is the greatest time of your life, so make it count. Nonetheless, keep to your standards. You know what's right and wrong. Stick to your word. Sending this from 2020. See ya in 2025.... doesn't seem too far away. Say hi to Lauren and Kendalyn and Carter for me. Maybe Ellie, too. Wave to Zach for me. It's people that really matter.