A letter from Sep 3rd, 2021

Dear Cara, Hi! How are you? Actually, I probably don't want to know the answer to that question. I mean unless it's good, in which case tell me... But based on the fact you'll only be a Senior (I think?) in high school and applying to college I am 99% sure you are insanely stressed out and panicking. I mean, I know nothing about future us BUT I can assure you it is fine. Look, everyone is telling you you will get into your dream school, including your past self. Please listen to yourself for a change. We just dropped Will off at Brown, so I hope you remember that moment and use it to work really hard in high school. Don't be stupid, first of all. I swear to god, Cara, if you got drunk even one time your past self is literally going to **** you. I hope you apply to Brown and Georgetown... I know they're hard schools to get into but Will did it, so you can too. I really want you to try. Early decision to one of them, or many even something that seems like more of a fit for us like Harvard! You're smart enough to get in; you've literally never gotten bellow an A in your life and are taking only the hardest classes next year. Don't be dumb the one second it counts. (Wow, I sound so self-centered saying "Oh YoU shOulD gO tO hArvArd" but seriously, you could if you worked hard enough.) Anyways, did you end up staying at AHA? Or did you transfer back to public school? Whatever you did is fine and I love you. Right now, Grammie is going on and on about how much you are the favorite granddaughter Literally now I hear them talking about it. (We are at Cape Cod right now.) Grammie just gave me her earrings that she wore in her wedding. They are so beautiful. I hope you wear them. Grampie went down to the boat today the first time all summer. Those steps really hurt his knees so I was worried he wasn't going to go down all summer long. But he did and we went on a two hour long boat ride! Okay, back to AHA. Who are you friends with? Did you get into the friend group you wanted? Are you still friends with Sharanya (Shari), Ivana, and Michele (AHA one). Speaking of which, are you still friends with Michelle (NVOT)? Please say yes. I can't imagine not being friends with her. It hurts me to think about it. Like I've literally cried so many times over not being able to go to high school with her. If you haven't talked to her in a while, maybe reconnect or something. Please. I don't know how you're living without her if you are. You need (and love) her. Have you come out to our parents yet? Well first you need to figure out what we are? Bi? Lesbian? I hope you figured that out + our gender identity. I also hope that you convinced our parents not to be transphobic... I hear them daily mock transgender people and it really hurts me knowing how much I support the lgbtqia+ community. (since I'm literally in it) Do you know what you want to do in your life? Did you complete your Gold Award? (I really don't want to do it) Have you finished writing a book? Did you ever shift??? I hope so! Do you still have Life360 on our phone? Is Laynie and Snickers all right? Do we still have chickens? (Laynie just got her toe amputated and is 8- Snickers is around 6. Only Bope and Dante are alive out of the chickens... Did we get more?) Do we have a girlfriend? (You'll probably say no but still-) IM SO JEALOUS OF YOU, YOU'RE ALMOST DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL!!! Anyways, I love you so much. I hope you are respected by your peers and doing what you love. Please just do whatever makes you happy, not what you feel obligated to do. Writing this was fun... I have to go to bed now though. Love you!! <3333 Love you, Cara XOXOXO September 3rd, 2021