Letter #97 - Diane

Diane was my stand-in mom when I was doing my undergrad.  When I graduated, I really meant to keep in better touch with her, but between our lives and schedules, we've drifted some.  I still love her a lot, and look forward to opportunities to catch up with her, but it's not often we get to do that, and often times when we catch up I find we're both referencing people, places and things that the other has no context for.

I've struggled a little in my own mind with the changes in our relationship.  At first I took it a little personally, we had been so close while I was there, and when I moved home it wasn't long before I wasn't getting checked in on anymore.  I slowly began to understand that it wasn't anything personal, it was just that she had new students to focus on.

I'm sure Diane will be glad to hear from me, but I have no idea if I will get anything back.  I just hope it brightens her day.

Letter #37 - Diane

I've mentioned before that it's inevitable certain letters will automatically lead me to my next letter recipient.  Dave was an example of this.  Thinking of Dave led me to think about Diane.  Diane was my boss and minister when I was an undergrad.  She spent 2 years ministering to me and trying to get me to move into the Journey House, then to become the Resident Assistant.  She succeeded on all fronts, and I'm so glad for it.  I spent many, MANY hours in Diane's office working on projects, chatting about life, escaping my housemates to get homework done, etc.  She is a wonderful woman and a natural cheerleader.  She could always tell when something was wrong, and even if she couldn't help me fix the problem, she knew how to help make me feel a bit better.

Writing to Diane brought me back to the house... sitting at my desk and hearing her call a greeting around the corner as she came up the stairs to say hello or check in.  Watching her face light up when someone would say something funny or share some good news.  Listening to her lead a harmony line during hymn sings, watching her lead us in a capella verses, hearing the vacuum turn on and knowing she'd arrived for the day... there are days in my life now, sitting at home by myself, where I would just kill for her to show up at the door and invite me out to a coffee shop.