Dear So and So

[Crankin]

Do you mean it's a sibling or parent? My family is super small, so to me, my mom's sister was pretty close. I have one brother, many years younger than me, who lives across the country from me, near my dad. The fact that I live about 12 miles from my aunt and have never run into her (I ride by her street a few times a year) amazes me. But, her world is very small.
Sometimes it's hard not to be with family on holidays, for me, especially Jewish holidays. But, we have been sharing holidays with friends for many years, and they have become our family. Of course, my kids, I think would like to continue contact with my cousins, but haven't, knowing how it would upset me.

[Becky]

Yup, that's what I mean. (Sorry, I'm being a little paranoid about what I share in the public domain...)

[Owlie]

Dear personal statement--
Why are you so hard to write? I hate writing about myself--it seems like bragging. And then I have to edit you to suit four different schools, then write another one for the fifth? I'd crawl into a hole now, but I have two weeks until the application deadline.

[Emily_A]

Dear website client,

I'm sorry I got snippy with you on the phone. I felt bad about that for the rest of the day. But I have to say...My time is as valuable as yours, and I know you were lying when you told me that you followed the written directions and that you still got an error message. It's obvious that you never even looked at them. I'm not stupid. I strongly suspect that you are, but I still shouldn't have let me tone of voice betray that suspicion. Next time I will be nothing but cool and professional...as I imagine banging my head against a wall.

Thank you.

[Cataboo]

Dear sister,

We all make amazon wishlists to make christmas presents easy, and I always put $10-$20 biking or kayaking accessories I could use on it (new handlebar tape is always good), because I don't want anyone to spend too much money on me. The fact that nothing on your wishlist is under $100 is mildly irksome, but I really don't understand why you've refused to buy me anything off my wishlist for the past 3 years now for birthdays or christmas. You buy from our brothers wishlists, so you're already buying things from amazon, if you pop something in for me it's free shipping! So instead you buy me random things that I do appreciate but don't really need or have a use for. Then you tell me "Well, I didn't understand anything on your wishlist." This morning you called me to ask "Is there anything you want for Christmas other than that bike stuff you have on your wishlist?" REALLY? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BUY ME CHEAP BIKE STUFF?

Your ungrateful and perplexed little sister

[channlluv]

Maybe she's looking to buy you something more expensive to show you how much she loves you.

Roxy

[bmccasland]

There's more expensive bike stuff - a gift certificate to TE? Not available on Amazon, but easily obtainable.

[Cataboo]

Maybe she's looking to buy you something more expensive to show you how much she loves you.

Roxy

When she doesn't get things for me on my wishlist, she usually only gets me $20-30 things - last year it was a $30 costco softshell. Which was nice, but I sort of have a gazillion softshells already. She did spend more on my birthday.

I did put a couple $50 items on the wish list, but I know she's got a lot of medical bills for her daughter & her husband lately. So she can't afford to show me how much she loves me!

When she called this morning, I told her I wanted the patagonia nano puff pullover and would order it and she could give me some cash towards it for christmas - 'cause even at 45% off it was $82 and I didn't want to ask her to spend that much on me. She is starting to understand good outdoor gear, because I let her & my niece borrow a lot of mine last winter to go tubing and because of all the snow.