TheWRITEaddiction.com

Dear Little Miss Gabrielle,

I hope this note reaches you in time.  There are some things you need to know immediately and a few things you’ll just have to learn on the way.  Please know that there is no emergency.  None of these items are issues of life of death, just a few friendly tips to help you navigate this thing called life.

1. First thing first: Make them say your name correctly.  I know it’s not a big deal and that it’s natural to shorten it to Gabby.  But they need to learn your name.  It’s three syllables, not four.  The A is a short A.  A long A is a boy’s name or that of an angel.  You are neither.  People will butcher it in ways you can’t imagine, but I promise if you correct them, they will get it right.  Break it down for them if necessary. It’s Gab (as in you talk too much) Rie (as in let’s do it again) Elle (As in the letter).

2. Never ever put a relaxer in your hair.  Sure it’s cute for a few days and easier for your mother to handle.  But it burns, baby girl.  Like crying real tears, kind of burns.  Like pinching your hands to distract you from the pain on top of your head.  And i’m not even going to talk about the chemical burns.  Just don’t do it.  Besides that, feeling the wind blow through your ‘fro will be one of the best things you’ll ever experience.  It is like heaven blowing you a kiss.  It is freedom in  its simplest form.

3. Dream Bigger.  Your goal of owning a two bedroom house for you and your goldfish is admirable.  But if that doesn’t work out for you (it won’t),  I want you to have another dream to chase.  Don’t limit yourself to what you’ve already been exposed to.   Dreams are not about achieving what you know to be possible.  Dreams are about living beyond what you think your possibilities are.

4.  Do it.  Apply for the scholarship. Go to the audition.  Ask that boy to take you to prom.  Do all of it.  You have no idea the incredible things you’ll experience just because you tried.

5.  Call Billy.  Do not wait for him to call you.  Hash it out,then hug it out.  Hold him for longer than is comfortable for either of you.  But make the call. If you do nothing else I’ve asked, for peace’s sake, DO THIS!!

6.  Dumb does not equal cute.  Never has and never will.  Do not dumb yourself down to play into anyone’s fantasies of who they think you should be.  This also goes the other way.  Dumb does not equal cute on boys either. Pick the ones you’d rather talk to over the ones with pretty faces.

And finally, write everything down.  You have a fantastic memory.  You’ll remember faces and locker combinations forever… But large chunks of your memory will be repressed due to a traumatic event (high school).   Keep a journal so in 20 years when what’s left of the circle gathers around for brunch, you’ll have a general idea of what happened.  Also, it’ll make for good base material, should you ever blog or publish a book.  (Spoiler alert: You will!)

Mama Radford