Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"They love me like I was a brother. They protect me..."

Brent's most recent letter to me had a section thanking me for asking others to write him.  He also addressed the issue of not being able to spend Christmas with family, which is a particularly difficult subject to broach. 
He asked me to help with what he wants to give his daughter, and I started thinking that even though this situation has been extremely difficult for all of us as adults, it will be infinitely harder for his children and Lisa's children when they are all old enough to really understand what has happened and is still happening.  They will have questions.  Maybe we'll have some answers by then, but maybe we won't.  I know there are parts of my childhood that I carry (as many, many people do) as enormous burdens that still affect my decisions today. 
Of course they'll be able to look at news stories, since once it goes to trial, the media coverage will increase exponentially.  But maybe they will still be able to see this blog.  If they do, there are some things Aunt Jaime would like for them to consider.

Be nice to your brothers and sisters.  They are the ones you will grow old with.

Animals are friends, not food.

No matter how many times people tell you that you cannot change someone else, you will still try.  You will still fail.

Radiohead's album The Bends must be listened to from start to finish.

Bad things (sometimes horrible, tragic things) happen to all of us.  If nothing else, these bad things teach us empathy for others.

Learn to really listen to people, but still think for yourself.

If something feels wrong, it probably is.  DON'T DO IT!  (That acidy taste in the back of your mouth is fear.)

Travel, travel, travel.  Learn from the cultures of others.  People fear what they don't understand, and hate what they fear.  It is infinitely more difficult to hate people if you learn about them and understand them.

There is NO excuse for harming children or animals.

Just because you are related to someone, you do not have to be like them.  You have a choice.

Of course, this is all contingent on the idea that the Mayans were wrong and we aren't all destroyed by fire in a couple of weeks.  We'll see soon enough.  In the meantime, if there are any updates, I will be sure to post them here.  Thanks again for your thoughts, letters, and for continuing to share this story.

<3

---jaime