Tracing her letters

For my Gran

You know what I love?

Like really?

It makes me giggle.

(Don’t you just love that feeling?)

I fucking love putting something on the mail.

I mean the whole thing is amazing.

Writing it out.

Tasting that tacky sweet but also probably carcinogenic flavor of the envelope paste.

But more than all that—

Than the words.

Or the address.

Or even the stamp (and she’s top notch).

It’s putting the letter in the post.

I love sending it off.

I mean the only thing that’s probably better is christening a boat with a bottle of champagne.

(Raises finger) Which is about the only way I would ever waste a drop of champagne.

It’s like you’re sending smiles, right?

Like I can just see it.

(waves hands gayley)

You know?

Like they’re gonna get the letter and see it’s for them—

And BOOM.

Smile factor.

It makes me smile just thinkin' of it.

I especially love riding the elevator down to the lobby to post it, with my glass of wine.

I feel like a fucking man on a mission or something, you know?

Like the “joy guy.”

Sometimes when I’m writing I can feel my Gran.

She had the most beautiful handwriting.

That’s really something to be known for, you know?

Like when you see an envelope and you sort of side eye it.

Like, “oh hey girl. I see you.”

That was Gran.

And honestly, that’s low key the mark I’m tryin’ to make.

“Oh a Trey letter,” smirk, a happy eye roll, and a shoulder shimmy as the envelope pops (we all know the look LOL. Don’t act like you don’t!)

My good friend, Gemstone, asked me to write her son a letter for his graduation.

I can’t believe he’s graduating. I mean I knew him when he was—

And I haven’t seen him since—

Well, anyway—

When you get asked to send some wisdom to someone as they embark upon the world—(The world. Echo, echo, echo)—that’s really an honor.

And you want to send something that maybe helps someone else have better, “go.”

You know?

I clicked my pen, breathed deep, and opened the card.

So this is what I sent him—

in the mail:

Grey—

Congratulations on this monumental achievement. I am so proud of/with you. When I think about the time that has been my life in this beautiful place, there are so many things my heart wishes to tell you—

But I’ll limit myself to three.

Half the adventure is not knowing and finding out in your own way.

1 Be gentle with yourself. Life is hard. She will come at you through the teeth in ways you cannot imagine. You will fail & you will fall, but you know?

That’s all right.

We all have thoughts and ideas, but none of us knows what we’re doin’. Breathe, exhale, and try again. It’ll be all right. Believe that always.

2 Lean into being afraid. I know that’s counterintuitive. But I’ve wasted so much time on fear. Fear of what people think, fear of leaving my comfort, fear of lack, fear of not being enough. You are enough. You are worthy. Never forget that.

3 This one surprises me. Make things a little better where you can. There’s no shame in giving peace, or love (this looked like, “of love” because I had too many glasses of Sauvi B), or joy to others when we can. We all need that random smile in the grocery store, don’t we?

A few good just generals: *Always keep a cold champagne on hand. You never know what there will be to celebrate.

*Breathe in the moments you’re reminded you’re small. By the ocean, under the stars… you get it.

*Love. Love all the things you can. That’s all there is in the end.

Congrats! XOXO

Trey

P.S. And fucking moisturize. Start now! LOL.

Anyway—

I think it was sound guidance.

(grins)

But he’ll have his own wisdom to share.

And that’s the beauty of all this—

innit?

And I looked at my own handwriting.

And I smoothed my hand over it.

And I thought of Gran’s birthday cards.

And I smiled.

I pushed the letter in the hatch.

And I sent it on its way.

(With a “thank you” note. Those are important too.)