Letters of Thanks

A friend of mine gave me an idea once…it started out as an assignment in college; write a journal entry about my favorite teacher. She decided to create hers in the form of a letter and then send that teacher a copy. I thought, “what a great idea!”, so I did the same thing, with a twist. I decided that I was going to find one person a year and write them a letter and tell them how they changed my life.

One letter that I wrote was to my 3rd grade teacher and her husband (who was the principal). I told them what I remembered most from what they had taught me. Then I forgot about the letter. When I was visiting my parents on vacation one day my mom and I went shopping when I heard my name being shouted throughout the isles. It was my 3rd grade teacher! She came running up to me to say that when she and her husband read my letter it made them both cry and that it was such a nice thing to write.

I have since written to several other teachers and friends to let them know that they have been important in my life. Almost everytime I do it I get something in return — the satisfaction that I let someone important know how they have made my life that much better for knowing them.

— Mia

Posted 27 August 2004 | Link to This Entry

Bo’s Last Ride

As a musician, we hear all the time how our music touches someone in a particular way. It’s an honor for me, personally, to be able to do that as I have a tendency to write what makes me feel good; what I like.

Today I received a call from a woman who is an animal therapist(?) and she requested a CD for her and her horse. You see, “Cathy” has had her horse for many, many years and the two of them have been the best of friends. Next week, she will have to put her best friend down, as “Bo” is getting old and unable to function normally anymore. Cathy called me and asked to order my CD, “The Ride” so that the two of them could go on their final ride together. You see, The Ride is about life and our journey through it. She said that she had met me at a horse expo a few months ago and that her horse really loved the music too.

I searched high and low for a company to overnight the CD to them. It took some time and effort, but I managed to find a shipping company that would deliver to her little town in Iowa. It made my day to know that my music was going to be a part of the memories these two would have together; that not only could I help people with my music, but that I had the ability to touch an animal as well. My music is going to help a girl and her horse get through one of the toughest parts of life that we will all have to face at some point; a departure from one world to the next; a brief journey to a new world where we will wait for our loved ones left here, to join us. How could anyone ever ask for anything more?

In the end, not only has she made my day, but she’s helped me to realize just how important my music really is to others. Maybe not on the scale of Celine Dion or Barbara Streisand, but to those who hear it and are touched by it, I hope I can make someone’s day as she has made mine.

— Vicki L.

Posted 6 August 2004 | Link to This Entry