Dear Emily,
You freaking rocked it today and totally slashed your to-do list to utter pieces. This was no ordinary to-do list; it was full of hard, expensive, time consuming adventures that ended up leading you to Ballard, up Aurora, back to Ballard, over to the University District, back to Lower Queen Anne, down to the Rainier Valley, over to Leschi, and then downtown off Spring St to officially declare: “Yes. I am a Washington resident.”
The word slashed, however violent, is appropriate given how much you persevered.
Emily, I am very, very proud of you for getting all these things done in one day; for not giving up and going for a cappuccino when things got frustrating early on. Especially after waiting in line for forty-five minutes only to find out: “yes, ma’am, you do absolutely need an emissions test.”
I was also very proud of you for not verbally assaulting the nice Ballard DMV lady when she told you it would cost $386.23 to cover the costs of switching your title over to Washington. You very politely responded with a graceful, eloquent: “Do you mind breaking those costs down for me? That’s just a little more than I was expecting. Heh.” And then handed over your Mastercard, like a happy, dutiful, compliant citizen that you (rarely…okay, sometimes) are.
I was further amazed at your decision, after running around the creepy Leschi district part of town, to head just a few blocks down to the driver’s license office to knock that one out while you were in the area. Hey, while we’re on the topic of Leschi- way to not just completely run over that man crossing the street. It was a close call, for sure, but you slammed on your breaks just in time. No worries, no worries. Next time, try texting Riley back later. When the car isn’t moving. Anyways! it had already been a long day but you dug in and went for it.
Don’t worry about the whole not showering or putting on make-up thing before you took your driver’s license picture you’ll have for the next five years and will undoubtedly get passed around at dinner parties or nightclubs when the inevitable “Let me see your ID picture! OMG!!! HOW long ago WAS this???” conversation comes up. In those moments, just think to yourself: you walked straight up to that picture-taking lady, took your glasses off, and hammed it up anyways. Like. A. Champion. with a gold medal.
Sometimes being an adult is seriously ridiculous. It’s okay to ask the Lord 700 hundred (million) times in one day, “HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” I’m fairly convinced the Lord absolutely loves it when you bring him these types of emotions and questions. It just makes the whole dynamic so much more real, ya know? Regardless, you were such a good adult today – your ego strength and young selves are most certainly developing. This is something to praise God, yourself and your therapist for as soon as possible. God knows you needed a little work.
Good job today. Rest up easy tonight, you’ve got a full day tomorrow. Given today, I’m sure you will completely rock because you, myself, are a reading week badass.
Live free, dream far (even when dealing with bureaucracy, Em).
Love love love,
Emily
Tear. It. Up.
You totally OWNED that beuricratic bull shit and showed it WHO IS BOSS.
Emily Jewell, you are a beast. Welcome to Washington.
aboomsies!
thanks for the welcome, Cdub!
hahah em, i miss you. love.
Have I ever told you how I adore these encouraging letters to yourself?? Well, I do. They are your trademark, me thinks. And what a lovely thing to trademark. I was just looking around feeling accomplished for a moment and a wonderful feeling came over me, and actually said aloud, “you have done well for yourself, Jen.” And then I thought of you and your letters. See, trademark.
They are so fun to write, Jen!
And, yes. You have done quite well for yourself! Write your own letter – I’d love to read that.
I hate to admit it, biy Its discomforting to even say a single sentence out loud, much less write a whole letter. Will add this to list of things to work towards.
Oh, woman. I feel this. It is a hard and awkward and foreign thing to be kind to ourselves. xo.