A Letter West

Hello Friend -

Today I am realizing it’s very telling that I kind of enjoy the inconsistency of your letters. Keeps me on my toes with anticipation and even though I know you will get to it eventually, it still feels like a surprise every time. Being the one who has stayed behind, I find myself expecting to be forgotten.

That may seem self-deprecating but it doesn’t stem from a lack of self-worth, more from understanding that most stimulation comes from daily and direct interaction.  There is no doubt, you walk freely with not one reminder of me in your day. Not one place where you live sparks a vision of my face or an emotion triggered by the introduction of me into your world. How simple & wonderful it must be to be away. The freedom of the unfamiliar must help to evolve into an identity unbound by your past.

Forgive me for having a childish moment, but I find it unfair that there are remnants of you here and not one reason for you to think of me there. How do I compete with cacti and cliffs that contain no connection to me?  How odd I find myself envious of you some days, and then I remind myself you are one who works to come back to visit. If ever while reading I find myself wishing you lived back here, then I am also reminded that you wouldn’t be writing to me if you did.

But oh how I love the thought of you with those cats. They complete my picture of you as a modern day Hemingway. I hope you write again soon, but if I don’t hear from you for a while, I assume it’s because you have found adventure and I will be lucky enough to hear about it soon enough.  And as always, thank you for inspiring me to step outside of my routine and into my daydreams… which currently involve imagining you building cat condominiums.