Writing Challenge update. Letter 9.

Back in December I started a writing challenge (can be found here: https://www.opendiary.com/m/vulnerableme/30-day-writing-challenge-5938899/). Anyway, I got through the first 8 letters before the pressures of life got the best of me, but I’ve always intended on continuing. So here goes.

Letter 9: to someone I wish I could meet.

Dear ED,

Funnily enough, I’ve wrote this letter in my head a million times. You don’t know I exist, but I feel like you’re a friend. I’ll start at the beginning, at how I discovered you. I have very severe insomnia. In high school, it was at its height. I basically refused to sleep… and I was going through a lot. When I turned 16, I got my license and a car. I would wake up at the crack of dawn and force my body to make me face the high school that was making me miserable. My high school was a whopping ONE mile away from my house, and, while I would take that harrowing journey, I would look for music on the radio to put me in a good mood. There’s not a lot of music on that early in the morning, and so, frustratedly flipping through the stations, your voice popped on. That’s all it took… fewer than one mile for you guys to hook me. Your show was so funny (still is), but more than that, it was your intense honesty and sincere kindness that captivated me. I needed your show in my life. You often joke that your job isn’t important, and I’m sure you’ve heard this before…

Your show changed my life. I was feeling so alone, so lost, so different. And you taught me to look at things in a different perspective, to choose kindness… to choose happiness. And in the worst of times, when I was having multiple panic attacks a day, feeling lost and alone, I would turn on your show and laugh and laugh and laugh. It’s been 12 years. And I never miss an episode. I binge listen. From where I left off until I’m caught up. You are my friend and you don’t even know it. You are amazing. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for always being there. I’ve never been to New York, but one of the items on my bucket list is to get drinks with you at Walkers and, maybe, just maybe, you’ll see that you have a friend in me, too.

Love,

Your loyal listener and friend.