Dear H.Y.

I am writing this letter because it was one of those special things that we used to do since we were children.  With the advancement of technology, I know that it is way easier to text or email a quick message, but your stories were much more tangible when they were written in ink.  They were much more mysterious when I would have to turn the page to see the conclusion of your story written on the back.  Knowing that the ink from your pen travelled all those miles across Canada into my hands made your stories of love and drama and gossip that much juicier.

As we both get older, I keep remembering the things from our childhood because these are the little things that have helped me become who I am today.  I relish in the little moments that have brought us to where we are in our lives.  In a way, your letters connected my Toronto childhood to my BC adolescence. 

 

I remember the games of truth or dare we would challenge each other with.  I remember playing hide and go seek with our siblings.  I remember some of the parties our parents would have, Korean music blaring and the smell of whiskey next to the glass of Coke on the tables, and all the while, we would be playing in someone’s basement or bedroom. 

 

I remember our letters of boys that we would have crushes on because for the most part, both of us were pretty sure that we would marry each one.  And we knew they were THE ONE because they were cute, smart, athletic, mixed, musical, or tall.

I remember our letters during university and the boys were even better because they were cute, smart, athletic, mixed, musical, tall, AND in university! 

I remember our letters when we did actually meet THE ONE.  Wedding plans and mortgages and baby plans all in its gritty details – angst, stress and excitement in the changes in our lives.  Oh how our lives would change.

And finally, we have met the “men of our dreams” in our little baby boys.  More letters, this time of exhaustion and nervousness and joy.  And I feel like we are going through the whole cycle again: our crushes on our sons because they are cute, smart, athletic, mixed, musical or hopefully tall; our dreams of them one day in university or off to meet their special ONES to start new families and lives.

I write this to you today on your birthday, because in the 39ish years that we have known each other, I cherished every single one of those letters of friendship.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Pen Pal