A letter from June 23rd, 2011

Dear FutureMe, Hey Mac! Remember when people called you that ALL the time? Do they still do? Well, it is the summer of 2011. Remember you first summer living in Richmond, MO? Yeah, so far it's pretty sweet. You're trying to grow your hair out long so you can curl it bohemian style. (boho) and you're trying to get your wardrobe to match that laid back, pretty, vintage bohemian style. Vintage as in late 60s and 70s. You love braiding your hair, especially french braiding your bangs. And you're starting to do those little twists in your hair too. You want to have a fashion blog as a personal progress project. A frugal modest trendy blog. With celebrity comparisons. Did you ever do that? Dad is still struggling with work, but doing better than he has been. We've learned that money really doesn't matter so long as we got food and a roof over our heads. Speaking of roofs, that house in Illinois still hasn't sold and Mom and Dad are just planning on letting the bank take it since the economy is so bad. Mom broke her wrist a few weeks ago, but is healing just fine. Her "cast" came off today. But it's still wrapped and definitely swollen. Today a stray cat was in our yard and was so scared and lost, it just cried. It wouldn't even walk around, it just layed on the grass meowing in a sad tone. You're not much of an animal lover, but felt bad for it and went outside, put a towel on it to act like a blanket, and just sat next to it and stroked it. It soon got quiet and rubbed against you. You then had to go inside for dinner (pot pies) and haven't seen it since, but really hope it's okay. You want to enter a writing contest and use the money to buy a pet Beagle. Wouldn't that be sweet? You REALLY LOVE Beagles!!! And you want to be an author someday. You've explored other career options, but can't keep yourself from going back to a novelist. Have you met that goal yet? Have you done ANYTHING to help that goal? You still love the color yellow and your 101 Dalmation mug. Do you still have that mug? You're bad at history and spelling and math, but you LOVE art, you were in the art club, in fact you were an art club representative at your old school, Hononegah. Remember that? Remember Ben? Good times, good times. Never forget that kid. You wanna go to college with him, but you haven't decided between BYU, Duke, or the Chicago art college. You two also want to travel the world together. And you're going to adopt a little Indian boy and girl-from India.You want to be in a big city, but right now you are loving every minute in the country. Especially the cows. :) You LOVE English too. And lunch. Hash Browns are your favorite lately. You are the Laurel class president and loving every second of it. You never realized how much the beehives look up to the laurels until now. Remember Ceci and Crystal? What about Kristen and Karla? Your friendship with Connor and Morgan is starting to bud and you really hope it'll grow. Sometimes you feel really lonely and get scared about who to sit with at lunch next year, but you know you'll do fine. You have a slight crush on Nathan. Nathan Freeman, remember? His mom is yours and his Sunday school teacher and totally laid back, relaxed, go with the flow, and FUNNY. You LOVE her! You're going to be a junior this year in the fall and you don't feel that old at ALL. Weird. You're starting to get nervous already for the ACT and college and paying for college. You see A LOT of praying and a continuation of unfailing faith in your future. (Yes, that is suppose to be semi-funny) Bishop Sarver is still very sick and leaves church early on the few weeks he actually does come. He's yellow skinned and you feel terrible for him. You're desperately trying to find a way to get money. It's SO HARD! All well.Your bad-OH well. You always accidentally say ALL well. oops. You don't wear make up because you don't have money to buy it. You need new socks, but also don't have money for it, and you know mom and dad don't have money for them either, so you don't bother to ask. You try to tell yourself that's ok, socks are more of a want, especially in the summer, and you don't need make up. You don't, you are beautiful just the way you are. "You re beautiful, beautiful just the way you are....when I see your face, there's not a thing I would change, cause you're amazing, mazing just the way you are" Remember that song? By Bruno Mars. It's your ringtone. You are REALLY into music right now. You like pretty much everything from Bruno Mars to Taylor Swift, to Usher, to Rodney Atkins, to Katy Perry. Even a little Lady Gaga doesn't bother you, you like some of her songs. Oh and Lady Antebellum is a favorite. You ordered a new mp3 online and it should come this week. You are SIKED! Like you said, you're bad at spelling. whatever. Touch screen and all! WOW! It's got all the newest features! You also love technology. Computers, ipods, ipads, mp3, cameras, you love it all. Gadgets are pretty sweet! You like camping and especially canoeing. You want and LOVE ADVENTURE! You swear you were a pirate buckaneer in another life. You want about 6 kids and you like the names Vince, Josiah, Levi, Anson, Wendy, Lilly, and Jeff. Are you married yet? You like dark curly hair in a guy and he has to be flexible and easy going and just fun. Someone who will enjoy roller coasters and trying new things with you. Oh and hardworking. You and Emily want to design and build a theme park ride. Maybe a Mary Poppins merry-go-round for Disney? Remember Sam, you guys are still texting and are good friends. You're going back to Rockford for Girls camp this year and are going to be a YCL over first years with Sam. How sweet is that?! You and Alicia and Johanna also have a budding friendship that you think will bud. Shyla is nice too. Mr. Sabathne and Mr. Rhold have been influential teachers in your life. So has Brother Burningham, for seminary. You want to bring Mr. Sabathne to the gospel and fast and pray for him several times. How did that work out? Is it working out? You email him frequently. You are 5'8" and weigh around 145, 150 Ib, something like that. Bold rectangular black rimmed glasses and side bangs like Shailene Woodley-GORGEOUS! Dark blonde hair, blue eyes. You get sick of your hair often and like to switch it up. Hippie headbands are starting to be in style, and you like them. Shoe size: Same since 5th grade: size 9. You HATE cleaning and don't find a special interest in cooking or baking. You also HATE to read! Remember the Old Man and the Sea! UHG! And Ms. Middleton! UHG! You really like corn dogs and chewing gum. And Selena Gomez's clothes line. Can you still wiggle your ears? Vibrate your chin? you just got your braces off and it feels GOOD! Well, I can't think of much else to say. How's the future working out for you? Still optimistic? I'm sure you're fine. Still sweet, yet spunky I hope. Have your driver's license yet? lol Still have a sense of humor? Hope so. Skinny and slender still? Still want a ballroom gown for your wedding dress? What about Virginia, still want to get married there? too bad there isn't a temple there...yet. Are Daffodils still your favorite flower? Is water lilly still your favorite perfume? You're starting to drop the whole tom boy, rough around the edges thing, but you still like to get your hands dirty. Maybe be a mechanic someday. Remember when you took the lawn mower apart and put it back? Proud moment. Remember when you fixed the brakes on that thing. Another proud moment. You have more desire to be feminine now. You're still very shy and your stomach turns (literally) When you have to talk about personal things. Still like that? You want to bring people to Christ with your drawings. You want them to feel peaceful and Christ's love for them when they look at your oil pastel and charcoal drawings. Are you still like that? You got a lot left on your personal progress, but plan on doing a ton this summer. 4th of July is your favorite holiday and you LOVE catching fire flies barefoot. I hope you haven't changed too much. That cat came back and is crying again. :( You think you're going to go out and comfort it some more. Oh, before I leave, you like ice cream and 24 before bed and every evening is spent watching Family Ties and/or the Wonder Years. Old shows, you know, but classics. Well, you hope all is well for you, in fact you're pretty sure all is well. Do you still wear that old BYU baseball cap every summer? I hope so. Remember not to abandon your past, just build upon it. Be yourself, don't veer away from your old favorites too much. Keep some of those childhood desires and habits. Watch your memories often. Remember the good times and family. Remember the simple sweet things that matter most. Good luck! Mac P.S. Did you ever go on a mission like you wanted to? Hope so. And always remember the Missouri Trip and the Nauvoo Trip-please. Thanks. :)