Dear Michael,
We’ve known each other most of my life. I mean seriously, I cannot imagine my life without you. No matter where my family has moved, you’ve always been there for me. When my world is falling apart and out of my control you have this crazy knack of refocusing my energy onto a project. You light up my life and give me purpose. There isn't usually a week that goes by we don’t get together and visit. I love how we share new ideas, excitedly hashing out a plan and list of materials. Sometimes our visits are frantic but other times we quietly stroll along just to be in each other’s company.
I guess this is my way of saying I miss you. I miss our time together. I find myself rummaging through my plastic buckets of projects we've done together in the past, trying to drum up that same feeling of excitement. It’s just not the same without you. You’ve always been there for me when I need a pick me up—and this past year I have needed that often.
Who knew our trip together back in March would be our last for so very long? Remember how we decided to learn how to paint like Bob Ross during our two-week lockdown? We filled our cart with all those tubes of oil paints, brushes, canvases and you shared your coupon with me? If I had known then what I know now—I would have been more present. Hindsight is indeed 2020 and it has been crystal clear to me I took our time together for granted. I am so sorry about that.
Now, you don’t answer my calls. You've never been great at texting and your emails feel so generic. It is as if you send them to the entire world or something. Sometimes I get in my car and drive by your home, I see you are spending time with others, others who are not taking this pandemic as seriously as me, and it breaks my heart. Are you being careful? Are these new friends of yours wearing their mask properly? Do you share your clever ideas with them now? Seems perhaps you have moved on—and maybe you think I have too. Yes, it is true, I have been spending more time with Amazon, but only because it is safer for our world. But I promise you, it is not the same as face to face time together with you.
With the new year fast approaching I have hope. I hope. I see a light at the end of the tunnel and a trip in our future. I look forward to appreciating the little things I clearly took for granted. I am eager to hear all your new ideas and projects we will do together in our future. I will not hold a grudge as we all have had to make tough decisions about how we survived this once in a lifetime pandemic experience.
Send my love to your family and friends, especially JoAnne. Tell her I miss our time hanging out in her fleece department. Oh, and don’t forget TJ! Tell him my wardrobe is in shambles and kitchen towels are in tatters too!
Until we can craft again,
A little thing you should know too Michael: My holiday gift giving season was a bust. I had no idea how much you’ve helped me figure out crafty clever gifts for all my family and friends. And, I’ve just about run out of that artificial bag of snow you had me buy to sprinkle on my Christmas trees. You were so right when you said, “Allison, this right here is the best bang for your buck in Christmas tree decorating!” Can you please save me a couple bags on clearance and I’ll pick them up the next time I see you. Hopefully sooner than later!
