You're Going to O.D. on Nostalgia

Contest--I'll send something to the first person who can name the movie my title comes from. (Little side note: For the longest time I thought the quote was, "You're going to O.D. on the style gel.")


During my stay in Michigan, Betsy brought out folders of notes I'd written to her during classes in high school (there were A LOT of them, no wonder I had a B average) and many letters I'd sent her while I was at BYU.


Reading those notes was kind of like looking at a car accident, I just couldn't look away. It was painful and amusing to read the high school notes because I had selectively forgotten some aspects of my character...namely the insecure, fat obsessed, boy crazy teenager parts. I even sounded like Betsy's stalker in some of the notes (good grief).


I don't remember any of that, and am trying to overlook those because they were from the early years, those painful 14-15 year old years of trying to find my place. Also horrifying to me was my use of the word your, instead of you're...oh the shame.


Some of the good aspects of reading the notes were their time-capsule qualities. I made reference to the TV shows we were watching back then (Moonlighting, 30 Something, The Cosby Show), the foods we were eating, the classes we were taking, family issues (my poor parents), weekend plans and so on. I also loved reading the humorous parts where I cracked myself up. I still do that, especially when I write letters to Betsy, so it was fun to see that over 20 years later we still share that part of our friendship.

I received a bunch of good mail while I was on my trip (it's so great to come home to good mail) and even received a couple letters during my trip. Claudia sent me one in Illinois and one in Michigan (much to Betsy's amazement).


Natasha sent me this cute "J" magnet last month right before I left. My fridge is covered in various "J" magnets, which I quite enjoy.


This is the card Claudia sent me while I was in Illinois. It was one of her patented, swirling text cards.


This is the letter she sent me while I was in Michigan. Betsy's amazement made it that much sweeter.



Last month Robyn totally surprised me by sending me 2 fabulous gift cards (just because) and the $10 bill I'd recently sent her in gratitude for taking care of all the Mother's Day stuff for our family gathering. I could not have been more surprised and delighted by these gifts and her nice note.


I came home from my trip to find this marvelous necklace from Lisa! She took my favorite photo from Women's Conference and turned it into a necklace for me, Michelle and Kristi. What a thoughtful thing to do, I love it!!


Jen M. sent me this really nice card while I was on my trip. I seriously think thoughtful cards that make reference to things I've written in a card or on my blog are my favorite kinds of good mail because they give me such an emotional lift. I'm sure we all think nice things about various people's blogs and have been impacted by our blog friends, but it's really a great gift when someone takes the time to tell that person.


I got this thank you card from Eva and just had to laugh at her giant "E".


Claudia sent me this fun envelope which included a letter and some magazine clippings. She has such a way with good mail.


Kim Sue sent me this nice note (sorry for the blurry photo). I always appreciate her kind words.



I also came home to this letter from Claudia (she's a prolific writer).


Melinda sent me a nice thank you note for some labels I'd recently sent her.


Laurie M. also has a way of writing such great cards; her thoughtfulness and sincerity are totally apparent and welcomed.


Natasha is so great to send me postcards from her many travels.


When I came over to pick up Eva and Lucas to go swimming last week, Michelle gave me this shirt. She'd been shopping for girl's camp and had gotten one for herself and had generously gotten one for me as well.


That brings me to today's good mail offering from Patsy. She sent this very festive 4th of July envelope with a note, JCWs coupon (woohoo) and an article about the traffic woes in Utah County. I'm living them, but don't get the paper so I hadn't read about them. Thanks Patsy!

**Did you recognize the movie quote?
Have you ever gotten mail on vacation?
Did write a lot of notes in high school?
Is it hard for you to read stuff you
wrote when you were a lot younger?**