Dear Seattle...

Dear Seattle,

Despite the fact that it had been three years since our last visit, I overwhelmingly remember why I love you more than almost any other place on Earth.  From the moment my plane crossed over the Cascades  descended into SeaTac to pulling into Dick's Drive In for that first Delux during my visit home, I am reminded by each moment and place why I love you.

So much has changed in three years and I am sorry that I got in my own way and ddn't come home to hug you sooner.  The missing half of Husky Stadium and my local QFC that is boarded up to make room for the long overdue light rail, so many new places to eat and a University Village that is so full of itself I don't know what to say.  But, you are still home.

My dear Seattle, I look forward to the day that I can make enough money that I am not dependent on my NYC Dept of Ed.salary any longer and have paid off enough of my student loans and I can come teach in my home town.

I also know that my husband who thrives in gray dismal overcast will embrace your borders and call you home someday (despite being a true New Yorker).

Seattle, on my way to the airport "the mountain was out" (something the locals understand).  Rainier was beautiful and majestic and she makes me smile every time I see her.  She is better than the New York Skyline- for me.  She is the ultimate symbol of home.  Thank you for sharing her with me in those last few moments as we flew down I5.

Thank you for a good trip Seattle.  I feel refreshed and relaxed my year of anxiety sloughed off. Thank you Seattle and my parents home for its healing powers and now I return to my other home and the arms of the two that love me the most- Charlie and Rose.  How blessed I am to have to places I call home that give me such different gifts.

Love,
Meredith

A Letter To Clothing Retailers: Plus Size does not = UGLY!

Dear Clothing Retailers,

Michael by Michael Kors

Let me start by thanking many of you who have in the last 10 year improved your selection of Plus or "Women's"  size clothing. (Nordstrom and Macy's)  I remember being a teenager and going to the department store and everything was either giant shapeless tee shirts or giant floral poly/cotton blend blouses.  Not something a 15 year old wants to wear.  (A made a lot of my clothing in high school and thankfully Grunge and Boho style was in so I could get away with throw backs and flannel.) 


When I first discovered Fashion Bug it was a life saver.  It was finally a place where I could find more fashionable clothing that did not look like a mumu.  I felt less bad about not being able to shop at The Gap, Express, or the like.  Well, at least that was was I told myself.


Now there are many retailers that LIMIT their plus size selection to online shopping - I'M TALKING TO YOU OLD NAVY!!!  Though I like some of your clothing very much, the fact that I can no longer go to one of your stores to try anything on-it is frustrating.  I should not be banished because I am not a 0-14.  

Old Navy Plus Size (Summer 2011)

I had high hopes when the TJMaxx opened this spring on 86th Street.  With the exit of Lane Bryant and Century 21 no longer carrying ANY plus sizes but when I went in to discover there were ONLY 2 racks in a four story shop of plus sizes, it was a let down.  Confined to online shopping, yet again.


Here is the upside of online shopping though.  Many of you retailers are innovating, expanding, and embracing the plus size market and I imagine doing well as American is a nation of many plus size people (who are such for a plethora of reasons).   I love some of the shapes, colors, textures you are using in many of your collections.  I also appreciate many of the designers who include "special sizes" in your collections.  Michael Kors, Calvin Kline, DKNY.  Thank you.  I feel confident that I can find something that looks professional has some tailoring and wont make me look like I am wearing a tent.  I thank you for this. 


I will most likely always be a plus size girl- I never expect to be able to shop at places that only carry size 0-12, nor do I want to at this point in my life.  I just want and appreciate options for my body shape that don't look like old lady who retired to Florida or skanky teenage girl. (See where Torrid can go so so wrong) 


Thank you to those who provide those options happily!  I will continue to be a loyal customer.


Happy Shopping, 
Meredith

A Letter To Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Residents Who Shop on 86th Street

Dear Patrons,

For the most part, you are filthy, dirty, rude people.  You come to my hood to shop, you leave garbage everywhere, including in front of my house around the corner from 86th and you think it is OK.  You take up the sidewalks with your GIANT strollers and walk so slowly that no one can get past you.  Sometimes you even come and sit on my front steps to enjoy your cold coffee drink.  There are a plethora of benches on 86th.  My front yard is not a place for you to chill.

Also, please pay attention to your children.  It is so busy and there is so much traffic and so many skeezy people....Im just sayin.

So, for those of you that need a list:

1. Smaller Strollers

2. Throw Your Garbage Away!

3. My front yard is not your house.

4. Watch your kids.  PLEASE!

 and a bonus!

5.  When you bump into someone, excuse yourself and by all means is it OK to hold a door open for someone!

Sincerely,

Meredith

A Letter to Lost Friends

Dear Lost Friends,

I miss you.  One of the hardest parts of growing up is learning that not everyone is going to be a friend for life.  I know I am lucky to have a few friends who have been my friend longer than I have been alive.  They are my history.  Just a few of them, but they exist...those childhood friends.  Then there are the friends from college, who I know will be with me till the end, but there are just a few of them.  


But then there are those of you who I have lost, either to my own stupidity or to a choice that was made to end a friendship or simply time allowing us to drift apart.  There are a few of you who have discarded me and cast me off.  I'm sorry that we could not get back to a place where our friendship could thrive.  There are a few of you where the damage was done and we can never go back; I mourn for you just the same.


There are a few, who have just got lost along the way- I don't know what happened to them: where they are, how they slipped away.  Those of you where it was really no ones fault, it was just part of growing up.  There are countless times when I think back on the first 34 years of my life and all the people I have known.  You were a part of my life and I have fond memories of growing up with you.


Now, as an adult, I find it much harder to make friends and loneliness is more frequent as friends are spread farther and farther apart, are having children, and are settling into their adult lives. Life is changing once again and I miss you.  I miss those of you I have lost track of, those of you I have lost and those of you who I feel like I am starting to say goodbye to now.  Growing pains I suppose.  My own insecurities in some cases that not having my own children I will not be included in the lives of some of my closest friends children.  I want to be the best Auntie I can be.  


To my friends, I miss you.  All of you.


Best,
Meredith

A Letter to the MDPHS Class of 2011

Dear Graduates,
When many of you walked through our doors when we opened the Fall of 2008 none of us knew what to expect.  It was a new school, a new group of students just looking for another chance.  I was looking for something new too: a new career.  You didn't know it was my first year as a teacher.  I dove in head first and you trusted me to be a teacher and mentor.  

Graduates, Family, and Friends

Friday, when I got to see so many of you sitting there in your caps and gowns, walking across the stage it was the end of a long journey for both you and me.  I have watched you grow, learn and become more amazing people with each step.  You have seen me laugh and cry.  You have seen me struggle along with you and get so angry all I could do was step out of a room.  You humored me when I demonstrated just how old I was and you generously listened to countless stories about Charlie and me.


More importantly, YOU educated me.  I thought I knew, but I had no idea.  Your strength and diligence amazes me.  The loss many of you have encountered is something I can only imagine.  The stories you have shared about growing up in Brooklyn are indeed badges of honor and I admire how candid many of you have been, sharing your stories, your trials, and a genuine honesty about what it means to grow up in New York City.


As you leave our school and go onto the next leg of your journey, know that you can do what ever you choose.  Your life is your own and it is up to you to make it happen.  Continue to grow.  Continue to inspire the people around you.  Continue to be the amazing people I know each and every one of you are. 


Many of you have asked me when I would be having children and I always tell you, "You are my children.  I have 200 teenagers."  I would not change my family for anything in the world and I could not be more proud of each and every one of you.


Love,
Ms. T

Lift Every Voice and Sing; Let Marriage Ring: A Letter to the New York State Senate

Dear Senators,


It is time to evolve.  It is time to acknowledge what you all know deep in your hearts: marriage is not about procreation.  Marriage is about love, partnership, and commitment.  It is about sharing your life with one person for the duration.  In a time where 50% of heterosexual couples divorce, I don't know what is a bigger F-YOU to the "sanctity of marriage".  I certainly can think of many gay and lesbian couples that I have had the pleasure of knowing who's partnerships have long outlasted many of my straight friends.  


That said, partnership is partnership and commitment is commitment- gender aside.  I struggle to understand how it is really any business of the state to say who can and can't marry; just like it should not be their business to determine who does and does not have an abortion.  


So I wonder what is going through the last undecided GOP State Senator this morning?  Is he praying on the vote he will cast?  Is he listening to the perspective of his constituents? I am assuming it is a HE.  Rude of me, I know.  What will be the finally deciding factor for this Senator?  I hope it is that love is universal and blind and we don't always choose who we fall in love with.  Trust love, give rights, and support people of all kinds-shapes, 
colors, income levels, and sexual preference.  Love is love.  Let Marriage RING!


To Marriage!


Truly,
Meredith


P.S.  Here is an interesting article from the NYU Alumni Connect Archivist's Angle Where Pride Began: The LGBT Movement at NYU

A Letter to Poppy and Amelie Fraser

Dearest Poppy and Amelie,
Welcome to the world baby girls. You were born to your Mommy and Daddy yesterday here in New York City.  That makes you genuine New Yorkers.  Not like me, or your parents who came here from the Pacific Northwest. If you live here long enough, you will get to discover things like playing on the lawn in Central Park and maybe riding on a ferry boat that sails past Lady Liberty- the most beautiful woman in New York (I think).  New York will be your third parent and she will care for you, if you let her.


The world today is 2011 is a complex place.  I know your parents are going to raise you well and teach you to love with your whole heart and to find beauty in laughing every day.  Girls, your parents are an amazing couple and I know they will give you all the love in the world.  Your mama is going to sing to you all the time.  She will show you what it means to be graceful, humble, and true.  Your father will love you in a way only shared by fathers and daughters.  He will teach you to adventure, to explore, and to cultivate your silly side.  He loves your mama very much and loves you but try not to overwhelm him, you three girls.


You have so many people who already love you and I personally am so excited to watch your adventure begin.  Welcome home, babies.


Love,
Meredith