A letter from Jun 2nd, 2021

Dear Future Me. Okay, five years from now. I'll be... eighteen. An adult. You're 18? I'm only 13. This is crazy. We're an adult. What's it like? Is it weird? Is it scary? Are you stressed? I'm sure you're stressed... right? We have a car. I hope. So... we can drive? Nice. I think. I always tell Ethan about how much I wish I could drive, how I wanna be able to go anywhere I want, without permission or a ride or walking. So hopefully I can. 5 years. So much can happen in 5 years. As of now, when I think back to five years ago, I remember when I was 8, and when everything was easy, and normal. So... will it still be like that? Is life for you harder than it is for me? Because I hope it isn't. I know it probably is though. Five years from this exact date, we'll be 18 years and 248 days old. So I'm sure those 248 days will have given you time to become somewhat independent, right? In that case, I hope you have your own place. I can imagine it being a dorm or something, although I really don't plan on going to any college or university. So scratch the dorm idea. A duplex apartment? That's what Abby moved into. She's 23 now, right? And Dalton's... 26? I hope you have an apartment or house. And a cat of your own, other than Nala. I would love to have another kitten. And maybe, just maybe, not live in our hometown. Maybe my hopes are too high. Realistically you probably still live with Mom. Probably still in our big red brick house. Is it still red? Or did Mom paint it like she's always wanted to? And is she still married to Billy? Ethan is 17 now, correct? I hope Ethan is doing better. And I hope you're still friends with him, and I swear to God if you aren't I will quite literally slap you. And hey uh... photography? How's that working out for you? I know we're still pretty young but I'm sure we at least have some kind of photography job, right? Here's a big topic. As you know, I'm trans. So... Testosterone. On it yet? Any top surgery or anything like that? In reality, everything I've just predicted for us is probably too good to be true, especially at our age. But still, it never hurts to hope. Is Mr. George Whiskers still alive? He'd better be. Although... 14 is pretty old for a cat. But let's be honest, that feline brat has survived CANCER. So I'm sure he's still going strong... Or at least, I hope. Speaking of cats, how's Tori? And Yadi? And Ninja, Baby, Nala, and Stevie? I'm sure they're all doing well since they're pretty young. Five years from now... Gunnar is 13. WAIT. HE'S MY AGE. Okay okay okay… is his speech good? And does he go to my school? How are his grades? Was he ever diagnosed with autism or anything similar? And how did he react to you moving out, if you did? Five years. Remington is 12. What is his voice like? Has it gotten better? And likewise to my question about Gunnar, how did Remi react to you moving out, if you did? Josephine is about 10 or 11 for you. Is she still in gymnastics, or as she calls it, "mastics"? How is she doing? Her brother James is gonna be... 8? 9? I can never remember his age. But currently, he's around 3-4. How's he doing? Whitney. Cris. Gunnar. Remington. All of our siblings. Does Cris still live at home? Is she still a bartender? Is she still dating Ty? Whitney is currently 31 or 32. In five years, is she still a teacher? And I'm assuming her and Shane are still married, right? Final topic, Dad. He's, like, 59 then right? Geez he's old haha. Has he moved out of state like he wishes he could? And did he and Chelsie get married or anything? Okay. I think that's all. Please be happy, for me. Happier than we are now and happier than we've ever been and ever will be. Please just live. Do all the things I told people we would and NEVER GIVE UP ON PHOTOGRAPHY. Take care of the cats, and the dogs - Cooper and Izzie. And think about Tweety a lot too, because I'm sure you didn't forget her and the sound of her obnoxious chirping. And take Ethan on the road trip you promised him. Please be safe. Live a fulfilling life. Marry someone. Have kids and make sure to name one of them Jaxson. Bye. Sincerely, Brandon.