...and now for a more positive posting.
Melissa, I love your emails. In your last one you brought up the telling issue of guy-gal relationships. Boy meets girl, right? Boy treats girl in very special way. Girl is confused but they beomce friends. Boy treats others in very special ways, too. Girl is angry. Boy doesn't understand. Girl tries to be a better friend, then gets angry at herself. Boy keeps on not understanding. Girl grows. Welcome to life! I see you growing in cross-gender understanding on a curve that's much steeper than my own.
More condemningly, I suppose, I see myself in all the dumb boys that hang around you. Let me tell you something that you might not understand. I think you're being a good friend to these guys, but not just because you're patient and longsuffering and forgiving. I think you're a good friend because believe it or not, they're growing too. You're there for them, reminding them that girls are not all "out to get them." You're normalizing the female gender! HAHAHAHA!
Ok, moving on. You also said you're writing an ode to me, just because I read your emails. (The ones you call "emo trips.") What? You write odes? And read kid poetry? You are freaking amazing. Your talents for surprising and loving the people around you with interests like those knock me out of my chair. Every time.
I can't wait to see you, Moo-diddy.
Shalom.