More Letters from Las Vegas

Dear Shoes, I'm terribly sorry about how black and gross you get everytime I even think about walking outside. I guess that's what happens when you live in a city, and a city with not so much rain. I will clean you as often as possible but I'm afraid you will get more beat up than we are used to. I'm terribly sorry. Regretfully, Rachel

Dear girl walking across campus today, I don't know you. Didn't even see your face. But when you turned and said "You look nice" it made my day. You have no idea how much that simple compliment meant to me. Thanks for taking two seconds to say something nice to a complete stranger. Hoping it comes back to you, Rachel

Dear Little Green Car, We are going to be spending A LOT of time together in the next two years. I promise to service you regularly and drive as kindly as possible if you promise to not break down [especially A/C breakdowns] or get in any accidents. Is it a deal? Yours, Commuter Rachel

Dear Body, Guess what? It's time. We were lazy all summer and starting Monday it's back to the gym. Every day. Get ready! Love, Healthy Rachel

Dear East Coast friends and strangers, Be safe. Be careful. Hurricanes are crazy business. Love, Rachel

Dear Provo, Who knew I'd miss you? But oh I do. Life was easier. I wish I hadn't taken you so much for granted. A touch regretfully but mostly nostalgically, Rachel

Dear Heather and Sarah, I'm starting school in a new town and it makes me think of starting our freshman year together. We had such a wonderful year didn't we? So many new adventures. So much growing and changing. Learning and laughing and loving. Was it hard at the beginning? It was, wasn't it? But it worked out in the end didn't it? Maybe that will happen here too? Missing you terribly, Rach

Dear Lyss [and Dan], Thanks for calling the other night. It meant the world. I'm so grateful for your friendship. You two have so much faith and diligence and are so obedient. I really look up to you, admire you. Happy for you and with love, Rach

Dear Eva, You won't read this. Unless I print it and send it. But I am sending all my love to you as you prepare to leave this week. You are so extraordinary. You just dove into this with no looking back and you are doing so well because of it. I'm looking to you as an example as I start school next week. I love you, Rach

Dear Slobbrey Aubrey Laubrey PJ Eggplant Sweetcup, I. miss. you. I need you to make me laugh. To help me put things back into perspective. To remind me that life is what I make it. I can't believe it's only been a year since we met. You are one of my best friends. Love you, Rachie Smachie Pudding and Pie Bob Dylan

Dear Christine, You always always always say the right thing or give me the right talk or offer a hug at exactly the perfect moment. You are an angel and I admire you so much. I already miss our time together, talking, watching a chick flick, baking cookies, being silly. I wasn't joking. Labor day weekend I need a night with you. All my love, Rach

Dear Annie, You won't read this either. But I'll send it so you can. Because I'm thinking about you. The last few days have been hard and so I've been holding onto our plans like a life raft so I won't drown. Who knows what will happen. But in the meantime I'm using them to buoy me up. I am so proud of everything you are doing any. You are exceptional. My prayers are very much with you. Love, Rachel

Dear LJ, I wish you were closer to me so I could get a hug. You give the best ones. Love, Rachel

Dear Lauren, Thank you for always being just a phone call away. You are one of the most loyal friends I have ever had and I am so grateful for your influence in my life. I love you. So much. Yours, Rach

Dear Jessica, Thank you for your text yesterday. You don't know how much just a simple I love you means to me right now when life is so crazy and hard. Literally made the difference between another cry and not. You are the best. And I love you for it. Forever, Rach

Dear Allie [and John],  Thanks for always being there. You are a constant source of encouragement and advice and I'm so glad you are always willing to share. Also I'm sorry for your heartbreak. I pray for you. Often. I love you SO much, Rachel

Dear Jord and Sam, Can we PLEASE go back to London? I'll win some money down here and it'll be my treat. You can even bring your husbands. What's that? Right. I don't gamble. Well. Maybe we can start saving pennies? Missing you and Missing Ben, Rachel

Dear Carly, I love hearing about your new town and all but every time I see a new post I want it to say you have a baby! Can you PLEASE hurry up. I want to see pictures of Baby Richardson! Anxiously, Rachel

Dear friends not listed by name, You are VERY important to me. I just don't have anything specific to tell you right now. Except that I appreciate whatever influence you have had and are having on my life. So much of who I am is made up of the experiences I have from people like you. Write to me? An email, a facebook message, a blog comment. Or maybe even a real letter with a stamp! I promise I will write back. Best wishes and love, Rachel

Dear Caldwell Friends, Second Moms, etc..., I'm homesick already. Thanks for keeping up with me on another adventure. Your love and encouragement mean a lot. Watch out for my family will you? Love, Rachel

Dear Sister, I love you. I miss you. I think you are stellar. Hope you are having fun hunting this weekend. Love, Rach

Dear Luke, Thanks for always asking what happened and listening to me patiently when I call crying. You are growing up into such a good brother becoming responsible and kind. So glad you are mine, Rach

Dear Karl Bug, I miss you. Can you please just come live with me? I have room under my bed for a cute boy who gives great hugs. Guess what?, Rach

Dear Anyone Reading This, You make me happy. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read all the way to the end of this. It makes me glad inside to think that people care about what I have to say. Or need something to do. Either way. You are awesome. Love, A happy girl

Letters from Las Vegas

Dear Kenneth, Thank you so much for helping me transport my belongings from the storage unit back to my condo. I cannot tell you how much it meant. The stress from not having to try to rent something and the energy saved from having help carrying things changed EVERYTHING about this move. You were an answer to prayers. Gratefully, Rachel

Dear A/C Repairman, You are my hero. I couldn't have done another night at 90 degrees inside the condo. No way. Though you seriously killed my budget. Thanks, but ouch, Rachel

Dear Nevada, Apparently you missed the memo so I'll update you. Smoking is bad for your health. Like gives you cancer kind of bad. And it stinks. Like smells totally and completely awful. So maybe you could not do it so much anymore? That would be great. Sincerely, Rachel

Dear Febreeze, I used two full giant bottles of you within the first 48 hours in my new apartment. I'll probably be buying stock if this is any indication of how the rest of my time trying to get the smoker smell out of this place will be. Praying you will work, Rachel

Dear Desert Shores Villas, Why would you build a gate with card access instead of clickers like everyone else? And why wouldn't you have a guest code box? And is the gate really worth anything if anyone can just follow me in and the tire slashers are broken on the outgoing side? Frustrated from waiting, Homeowner Rachel

Dear Vinegar, You work wonders on getting rid of gross things. Wonders. So glad google told me you would help cut through smoke leftovers. Is is a problem though if I can't smell the difference anymore between you and Febreeze? Hoping the answer is no, Rachel

Dear iPhone, I would be completely lost without you. Seriously. How did people move to new places before they had google maps at their fingertips? I love technology, Rachel

Dear Grandpa, Thank you for above mentioned iPhone. Best graduation gift ever. LOVE, Rachel

Dear Doorbell, You make me super happy. Currently you are the best part about this place. Ding!, Rachel

Dear Lawnmower, SO HAPPY to hear you this morning. Now my complex doesn't look ghetto and run down. And you made the grass smell so fresh all day. Happily, Rachel

Dear Ashley Furniture, Why do I have to wait so long for my couches? I really just want a place to sit besides the corner of my bed and the kitchen table chair. You'd think if I spent that much on couches and shipping you could have them here sooner. A kink in my back, Rachel

Dear Sonic, Thank you for Happy Hour. Lemonberry slush = day saved. Love, Rachel

Dear Self, Never put together furniture late into the night. You may accidently make mistakes that you will kick yourself for later. Speaking from experience, Me

Dear Mom, Thank you. I don't have any other words to say what I want to so I will simply say that. Thank you for your time, your energy, your knowledge, your checkbook, your cheerfulness, your encouragement, your constant belief in me. I couldn't have done the last week without you and I wouldn't be able to survive what is coming if I hadn't had your help to start getting settled. You are the best. Absolutely amazing. I am so lucky to have you and so grateful for everything you have done and do. Wish you were still here. More love and gratitude than words say, Rachel

Dear Albertsons, Thank you for having both a Wells Fargo and a Post Office so that I can do all my errands in one place! Super great. But you really could put your prices into a more normal range. Yes? Wishing, Rachel

Dear Sunrise Hospital, PLEASE give me the job, oh please oh please oh please! Hopefully, Rachel

Dear Walmart, Sorry for walking out today and leaving a half full cart. My emotions have been on edge and when you didn't have three things in a row I needed, including the microwave I'd chosen and was in no state to try to decide on a new one, I lost it. Hopefully it wasn't too big of a deal to put my stuff back. Apologetically, kinda, Rachel

Dear Home Depot, Thank you for smelling like fresh lumber. You made my day happier. Cheerfully, Rach

Dear Family, Thank you for putting up with me calling all day long. It's just this darn apartment is so quiet now that Mom is gone and I hate being alone. And I'm tired and don't feel good and have this massive list of things to do still on top of it. So thanks for listening and cheering me up and stuff. You're the best. So glad to have you forever, Chel

Dear Monday, Hurry up and get here please! I want school, a schedule, a routine!!!! Did I just say that?, Rachel

P.S. A wedding post coming. I wrote stuff down but I want more pictures first. Also, a house post coming. But it is still too unfinished to be worth showing right now. Patience and they will come. :]

Dear Gold's,

I'm so sorry that I stayed away for so long. Papers, exams, drama, my failure of an immune system, and lack of self motivation all got in my way. I know those aren't good excuses. But they are the reasons.

I made a million excuses to avoid you even today. You take up a lot of time. You make me stiff and sore. I leave smelling awful. And everyone there makes me feel so down on myself. I'm not as fast or as strong. I'm still fighting with myself everyday and they all make it look easy. I started rationalizing that I had homework to do. That I was still sick. See - *cough cough*.

But honestly all day I felt gross. Sluggish. I started sneaking chocolate to try to make myself feel better. Ha. Worst idea ever. Chocolate is the flakiest friend I have ever had. He makes you happy for about 30 seconds and then makes you crave more and about thirty minutes later you wish you had never met him. BLAH.

Finally in the midst of my blah I knew that I had to ask you to take me back. In the back of my mind I knew that all I really needed was you. So I put on my clothes, tied my shoes, put my hair up and came to you. I stretched muscles that haven't been used in far too long and then stepped on the elliptical. I set it for 30 minutes. Just that much I told myself and then I can get out of here. But when my 30 minutes was up all I wanted was more. So I got on a bike for 70 minutes. And when I finished that I felt so light and good that I just wanted a little more. So I used the treadmill for 15 minutes. And then because I really did have homework to do I dragged myself away.

I'm so glad you chose to forgive me and welcome me back tonight. I feel absolutely amazing. All the bad feelings and grossness from the last few days is gone. I feel renewed. My insides are bursting with happiness. I feel like I can do anything right now.

I truly need you my friend. You ask a great deal but you give so much in return. Every time I leave you I am a better person. And isn't that how friends should be? Asking, giving and then leaving each other better than before.

I'm writing to you now to promise to visit you CONSISTENTLY. Even if just for a few minutes. You are important to me and if I really expect to meet my goals you have to be a priority. Gold's, my friend, you will not be forgotten so easily again. The best part is I know that if I fill my part of this deal, you will help me feel good and you will help me achieve the things that are so important to me.

Thank you for being patient with me and for helping me tonight.

Love, Rachel