(no subject)
dear karlen, 7 years old:
justin samson is not going to come to your birthday party because you do not have a pool. this will be the first time you notice how superficial people can be. i'm sorry because i know you really wanted him to come.
love karlen, 21 years old
dear karlen, 10 years old:
look, i realize you're trying to grow your hair out again but, honestly, you have a freaking mullet. yes, i understand you're too young to notice what your hair is like but you will notice later how awful it was and you will hold it against your mother. so, please, just ask her to fork out the cash to take you to a damn stylist.
love karlen, 21 years old
p.s. not that your hair is much better when you get older but at least you try now.
dear karlen, 13 years old:
don't worry, baby. it happens eventually. he has a lot of growing up to do and so do you, just in a different way. you've got a lot of dues to pay before everything falls into place. just be patient, just be strong. just put up with all the lame-o's you will inevitably end up with. i'd tell you to stay away from them but i know by that time it won't matter anyway.
love karlen, 21 years old
p.s. yes, it's every bit as wonderful as you think it would be.
dear karlen, 16 years old:
seriously, stop it. what the hell is wrong with you? i know you're not going to take heed here because you've got such an attitude you won't even listen to yourself but really, you're failing miserably at life. and i know you think you're some kind of bad ass bitch but let me tell you one thing right here, sister: if we met today, i would beat the hell out of you and beat the jesus in. put that in your hat and carry it home.
love karlen, 21 years old
p.s. you will never hear the end of it from your parents who, for whatever reason, still put up with you. you might as well just quit it.
dear karlen, 19 years old:
this is where you lose the majority of that snotty immaturity (i don't think you'll ever be totally rid of it). this is where the hurt really starts, this is probably one of the most difficult times of your life. all the shit you thought was so bad when you were 16 seems like a cakewalk now. i'm sorry. a million times i'm sorry. you make it through, though. just remember that you can talk to people, you never ever ever have to suffer alone. you are not alone.
with the most love, karlen, 21 years old
p.s. you do care if you don't wake up, it doesn't matter how many times you try to tell yourself the opposite.
dear karlen, 21 years old:
i suppose i should say congratulations for making it this far, but what have you done, really? work harder, spend less money, stop letting employers take advantage of you, and stop trying to convince yourself that you have all of these flaws that are going to make him leave you. he knows about them. he's already told you he doesn't care. you've done pretty well so far this year. i'm proud that you've made some real decisions and (finally) acted on them. just keep at it. you're an incredibly lucky person to have the backup you've got. you have a strong set of friends, family, and a boyfriend that will do pretty much anything for you, and you for them. so, please don't let me down. if you fail again there probably won't be a next time. you have no reason to fail.
love, karlen, 21 years old:
p.s. your grandmother is going to die soon. i know you know this and i'm sorry. i'm going to tell you that you shouldn't let it be like it was with poppy, where you didn't see him for months before he died. when did you last see your grandmother? june? i'm going to tell you to go and see her. i don't know if you will. i know how you feel about this.