America, your mom called ...

America,

hey sweetie, i saw i missed your call. i know you have been going through a rough time. your job situation is horrible, which is totally effin’ up your finances. I know you are super worried both about your kids and all of your parents (its complicated because you have 4 instead of 2 like the generations before you). i know it bigger than just the money and stuff, but sweetheart you have got to pay attention to the fact that these types of financial problems are STEEEE-RESS-FULLLLL!!! i don't need anything from you, so please don't worry about me or any of us, we are all just rooting for you to win!

i’ve been doing so much thinking and praying for you lately. i keep thinking back to when i went through a similar transition period. i’ve decided to write to you about how i see you, so you can remember these things in yourself as you go through all of this. you really are the sweetest, most compassionate, observant, truthful, and sensitive of all my kids.

first of all little one, i know you are tired, but it is so important that you keep doing all the good you are doing at home and around the world! most people don’t know that you are funding the LARGEST public health effort the world has ever known. its so annoying to me, because i know how the people in Africa love you and the prostitutes in Thailand, how grateful they are for condoms and protections etc . . . i’m sorry the others aren’t paying attention. i want you to know my dear sweet do-gooder America, i know that you are saving the crack whores; the orphans; the lepers; widowed; mamed; naked; hungry; sad; etc. i know your heart, and i see all the good that you do. so many are ignoring it. and you don’t brag. you need to brag more sweetie. people don’t know that just by one little thing you are able to help millions of people, you should let them know that. i know it is uncomfortable to talk about yourself, but you share all the embarrassing things, why not the good things too?

America, don’t forget to express how you feel. When you express yourself you will find that others will listen and bend. It is a way of helping others see just how willing to compromise you are if you just listen. you know how sometimes when we fight we are just kinda yelling at each other and neither has any idea what the other is saying? lets stop doing that … i’m afraid my failing you as a child might impede you nbow, so lets end that silliness right now!

on the day you were born, i felt you blessed with power and a forcefull expression of human will. i have no dount that you can make it thorgh any trial if you are focused on what you want most. and you have to remember what you want most? what are you all about? life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. we spelled it out for you when you consived you. and don’t forget that you were an pain in the ass to consive? we were almost buying harnesses to figure out how to get sperm and egg together and then voila … you arrived. (i googled fertility harnesses and came up with this ...)the whole reason we fought so hard for you is that we knew that you would fight for life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness: and we meant it! don’t forget to do that!!! please, it was a really crazy time in my life and i'd really love at least one person to appreciate it!!!!

you have got to remember too not to arouse antagonism. seriously, sometimes you just kinda rub people the wrong way and it really puts people off. i seriously think if you’d just let go of some of the absolutles you use in your language: always, never, most of the time, often, hardly ever, etc . . . that crap really pushes people away.

you are a dreamer my dear, keep plans as practical and down to earth as possible!

i know you have this interest in the darker aspects of life, i feel you my sweet darling. you are not alone. not only is it part of being human it is an important part of being part of this family. that is why there are so many therapists, artist, revolutionaries, drug addicts, schitzophrenics, and politicians in our family! use that interest for good.

i promise you this little one, playing with the dark side, just to feel dark is terrifying. the only good reason to look at it is to figure out how to keep one hand in and one hand over just enough to pull the loved one out from that darkness. please please please don't participate in their dark behaviour!

that said, in order to ever move someone from the darkness to light, you are going to have to understand the darkness … which is kinda a shitty truth about life.