Hey…it’s your “Past Me” here. Just popping in to say hello and remind you of a few things. I know, you didn’t expect to hear from me. Funny how that works, huh? Honey, go get yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, and put your feet up…we need to talk.

Your “Past Me” wrote this when you were 63…going on 64. (Do we still do that? Count the years? I think we always will ’cause we’ve always loved our age. Well, except for 26. And 46. Remember those? Oy! But, I digress. Sorry.) Sixty-three was a good age. You were pretty healthy except for that car accident. That kinda scared you a little, didn’t it? Well, it needed to! It made you back off that lead-foot a little bit. Made you a little more cautious. That’s ok. Your “new-to-you” truck has got a whole bunch more miles on it now, I’m sure. Thank you for taking such good care of it. And of yourself!

Sixty-three marked four years as a widow. Back then, it seemed like forever since you’d seen him. It seems even longer now that you’re older. But, in some ways, it was just yesterday. You know how it is. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now how to keep from falling into that hole in your heart. You’ve done a great job with that.

Now that you’ve had a few more years to “ripen”, I want to remind you of some things you thought about in 2017.

You worried about money. You wondered if you had planned right. I hope you’re finding that you did. And if you aren’t sure, I hope you are tightening your belt. There’s so many things you can do without. Like those Starbuck’s lattes. Brew your own coffee, for Pete’s sake!

You wondered if you were going to fall in love again. If it was even possible to love someone like you loved Mr. Virgo. You were a little scared to even consider it because, you know…what if he d-i-e-s and you have to go through that again? I’m here to tell you, if you got the chance to fall in love again and share that kind of joy again and have wild passionate sex and be free and happy again…even if it was just for one damn day…I sure hope you jumped at the chance with both feet! You KNOW life is too short. Mr. Virgo taught you that lesson. So, if it happens…don’t be afraid! Go for it with everything you’ve got!

You were so grateful to live on Grandma’s farm. I hope you got to enjoy that for as long as you wanted…or as long as you could. I hope you listened to every creaking floorboard and every birdsong that echoed up the holler. I hope you memorized the sound of the creek as it rushed by the window. I hope you laid in the grass in the backyard and stared up at the Milky Way every time you had the opportunity. It was a special place…a special time.

You were so proud of the kids and grandkids and the rest of the family. I hope you went to see them often and made it a point to call frequently, just to say hi and tell them how important they are to you. I hope you took the time and wrote some letters. Don’t forget how important Mom’s and Grandma’s letters were. Leave some for them.

You were so in love with God. I pray you have kept that connection and deepened your love…and need…for Him. I hope you have been going to church regularly. I know you’re going to need that because I know you have lost people who were important to you…people who are still here as I write this. You may question a lot of things, but I hope you have never questioned God’s love for you.

You sometimes suffered “writer’s block”. I hope you are still writing. I hope you’ve finished that book (and maybe half a dozen more) and they’ve made the big one into a movie and you’ve become as successful as you always dreamed. I hope you’ve helped people with every step of your journey. That was always the point of your success…not fame. I just know you still take delight in sharing God’s love with others. Keep it up, dear one!

Well, that’s about it. I’ll check in with you again in a couple of years…just to remind you of where you were and to cheer you on. Keep camping. Keep up with your girlfriends. And, don’t worry about anything…God’s got this. He always has!

Love,

Your “Past Me” ❤️

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬