A letter from February 8th, 2020

Dear FutureMe, You made tortillas for the first time. You also learned how to make authenticate refried beans. You made Grammy’s Buttered Cabbage Soup,and Rustic bread Loaves for the first time this week also. Girl you’re taking time to do the little things you never did before. You planted hydrangea, dusty miller and Ranunculus in the flower beds today. You want to grow your own bouquets. Sweet! This year you’d like to learn how to sew, but to put any plans in motion to get instruction, that’s daunting. The sewing machine intimidates you- reminds you of the first time, at 15 years old, when you were learning how to drive. When you put the car into gear-it wasn’t a manual- it choked- it’s the reason you won’t drive a stick-shift to this day. But don’t let the fear of threading a sewing machine unnerve you. You’ve faced tougher challenges than needles and threads! Oh those random little things are the rewards we get. Those tiny successes or new passions to learn something or do something we haven’t done before. But truthfully, it’s the big things that you’ve waited for and want most- like the commercial kitchen. Although it’s nearing completion, you hold your breath. It’s been a long road to get here that you barely trust tgat ya’all could be so fortunate to finally launch the catering business. When you do you’ll finally accomplish a long-term dream of catering 50 - 100 weddings a year. Well that’s your ideal. Keep in scaled! Calm yourself. But all the while... you keep reaching, keep climbing, never give up. Hmm, that reminds me of a poem you loved because you related to ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes, but you refer to it as ‘ Ain’t been no Crystal Stair’. And God knows life has been hard. There’s been beauty, but there’s been an equal amount of pain. The beauty is in the times you felt loved, secure and safe. The pain is when others hurt you, let you down, or even your own choices made you vulnerable and open to some very disheartening experiences. But you coped. Remember Langston’s words: Well, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. So, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now— For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. That’s how your life felt. It’s always been about the struggle to reach your goals. It’s not for lack of trying. Just continue to be patient and apply yourself. One day when you least expect it, life is going to turn out for you, and you’re going to finally feel that all the hard work to get there was necessary for you, at least. Dream. Never stop reaching. Sincerely, Me