Dear Sarah...

My friend, Sarah Stratton, has been gone for over a year now. Every so often I forget that she's gone. Her sister, Hope, showed me a picture of her in the casket. It didn't look like her. Often in my life I wanna ask her something, then I remember I can't.

I wanted to go before her, but she gave me signs that it would be her first. She told me she did not want to be old. She told me what she wanted on her epitaph. She told me what she wanted to be wearing. The princess-cut diamond studs I gave her, most of all.

Last April, I had my ears pierced at Rick's Tattoos. Friday, I had Rick's put Sarah's diamond studs in my ears. Yesterday, I took them out to clean my ears and reinstalled them by myself for the first time. I wear Sarah's diamonds for her. I feel worse than I did before I had them on.

Dear Sarah,

I've been out of work since April. My boss at Toyota was a real jerk. Just couldn't see the forest for the trees. Always blaming me for other departments mistakes. This is something you and I share. We work places, and we become involved in situations that are not our fault. But, because upper management can do no wrong, we are asked to become scape-goats. You have fought and won a few. It wasn't necessary to fight this one. I loved my job, and the people I worked with, but as long as dick-head was the boss, I can't work there.

I'm going back to towing. You remember when I used to tow? When you lived off of Woodstock. The laws have changed, however, and now you need a special license, like a CDL, to operate as a tow truck driver. We'll see if I get my license in a few weeks.

I came in to some money when a tow truck driver dropped my toolbox off of his truck last March. $10,000. In hindsight, I shoulda bought another toolbox, but I spent it on bills. It's gone now. It didn't last very long. I imagine if you were speaking to me, it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did.

Christina and her family are coming from Louisville for a few weeks. I hate how everyone in my family treats her like royalty. I don't hate her, but she has no real love for me. This is another thing you and I share. I constantly catch myself, and admit to myself that I have hate. It makes it easier for me to find a reason to go along with what I'm being put through.

I'm wearing the diamonds I bought for you. I think you would approve. I gotta go freshen up to see Christina now. I'll write again soon.

Love Forever,

John