links | email | notify | archive | home Guest Entry: A Letter From Patti 28 April 2003 (There is another entry for today. Start here.) This started my workday off with tears. The good kind. The kind that tell you that the world holds wonderful things for you, and that you are lucky to have them. I love you, Patti. Melissa, I got you a present which you are getting today: I've written your journal entry. Why? Because I think everyone who reads your journal should know not only how much you love, but how much you are loved. They know what you say. Now they get to know what I say, which is nothing anyone who knows you wouldn't say. And others say it better than I do, I'm sure. But today, your birthday, is my chance to speak. I got up early this morning, got ready for work and rushed to my computer. I normally do not turn on the computer in the mornings -- I spend all day with one -- but today is different. Today is your birthday. And because we don't live in the same city (hell, the same country!), this is the best way for me to say what I want you to know. A long time ago, in a world where internet friendships are intense yet transient, I began to talk to someone online. And then we had the opportunity, however briefly, to meet in person. A lot of things came out of that short visit in Baltimore -- but the best one, the one that has stuck, is our friendship. We've had days where we've treated email like it was instant messaging, filling our in boxes with silly one liner after even sillier one liner. And we've had days where we don't talk at all. That's the nature of living so far apart, which, I think we can both agree, truly...well...sucks. But it's taught me something: I don't need to see someone every day, I don't need to talk to them for hours every week to hold them to develop a meaningful relationship with them. You've held my hand while I cried over my stepfather's illness in a very public restaurant, you've held my sanity together while I've run a 2500 person convention. Quietly, but with great care, you've become an integral part of my life. You are exactly what I need when I need it and, most of the time, before I even know I need it. Every time I've been out and about for about the last month, I've been looking for things to include in your birthday package (which should get mailed about ....um.... well, before your anniversary, I hope!). And today, as I sit here and write this, it occurs to me that somehow, on your birthday, I got a gift, too. I got to sit and think -- really think -- about my wonderful Melissa. I got to reflect on how our lives have become meshed together, all thanks to a (crappy) convention in Baltimore. And I cannot tell you how grateful I am for those series of events that brought us together. So today, like every day, I think of you and smile. And know that I am in your thoughts as you are in mine. I love you, and wish you true joy -- today, and always. All my love, Patti back  next home email