Love Letter: San Jose

Today's letter will be from me to my city.  Enjoy!

Dear San Jose, 

I can't help but love you.  You have given me culture, an education, friends, inspiration, and so much more. I love that you have embraced the food truck culture, local artists, and small businesses. I love that other professional hockey teams complain about the noise level we create within our arena. 

You are beautiful. I love your golden hills in the warm summer and your green hills in the wet winter. I love that I can always find something fun to do or something delicious to eat. I appreciate that you make an effort to reduce your impact on the environment. I love that your airport in the heart of the city makes travel easy. I love your perfect location: 45 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, 50 minutes from San Francisco, and 3 hours from snow. 

I love your people and I hope we continue to grow into a local lovin' community that promotes from within!

What is your favorite part of San Jose? What makes you love the city you are in? 

(Photos courtesy of Daniel Garcia Photography)

Love Letter: My dearest

This week's love letter comes from a father missing his daughter who has recently gone away to school.  The vulnerability he shares with his daughter is so sweet.  Enjoy!

My dearest Namratha,

I hope you find this letter in perfect health and happy mind. I suppose that you have already been settled in your new room and that your classes have begun. I just wanted to let you know that I miss you a lot. I know it seems very childish to get emotional at this age but even though it’s been just few days since you have gone, I am feeling completely lonely here. I miss your never ending stories and ever present arguments between us.

Though I am missing you lots and wish that you were here with me, I am really happy and proud of you that you managed to secure a seat in a top college. You have always given me a reason to feel proud and you are the sole reason for my existence after your mother left us. It is strange in a way to see you making your own decisions and going on with your life because you still are my little girl, my baby princess. I love you a lot and will always be there for you if you should need me.

Good luck for your new life and do write in regularly. It will give me the peace of mind that you are fine and doing good.

With lots of love,

Daddy

Do you have a love letter you would like to share?  If so, email stacyernstblog at yahoo.


(Letter courtesy of Write Letters)

Love Letter: Lovey-Dove

Today's love letter comes from my friend, Sarah, writing to her 18 month old daughter, Gigi.  Enjoy!

My Little Lovey-Dove,

I have been filled with this insane desire to package up all of your cuteness so I can remember years (even days) from now just what you sound like, look like, feel like and smell like. You are a full-fledged toddler now—walking, running, jumping and talking (at least making noises) and trying to keep up with Jesse. You say words like “juice,” “no,” “mam-ma,” “e-i-o” for the “Old MacDonald” song, and a bunch of other sounds that I understand and will someday be words that others can understand as well. For now, I selfishly enjoy being able to decipher exactly what you are saying. I do pray that I will continue to understand you in a deep and meaningful way as we both grow older.

You sleep (usually) through the night, but you have made it a habit to wake quite early and finish off your sleeping in our bed. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I enjoy having my own space, but, for those 2 hours, I LOVE to wake up and see your little chest moving up and down with your breathing, your pursed lips, quiet and peaceful, and always with your hand touching some part of me.

I love you.

Mam-ma

Do you have a letter you would like to share?  (Email me at stacyernstblog at yahoo)

Love Letter: Alison

Today's love letter comes from my friend, Alison, and it is written for her husband.  Enjoy!

My Love,

I'm sorry if it frustrates you that I haven't been able to clearly communicate my feelings lately.  I feel that we are in a big growth spurt, one that we've prayed for, and the challenges we face are due to the fact that without overcoming trials, our growth would be superficial. I appreciate and need your constant support and reminders that we will work this out, so thank you. You are right, we will. And my need for reminders doesn't come from doubt. Rather, it comes from a place of feeling as though my resources have been exhausted and I need strength to focus on the good of the fight. Thank you for always having an overflow and supplying me in times of need. You are an example of the kind of strength I hope to freely give when it is your supply that has run out. Thank you for continuing to pursue and confront problems, even when they are hidden deep inside of my insecurities and hesitations. Thank you for being open and vulnerable, and being sensitive to the times when I am able to do the same.

The two things I first noticed about you when we met are still the two things I see most in you. Your security and strength are found in God, and in all our trials, this is what keeps us afloat. Thank you for being open minded in all things involving our relationship, and giving me freedom and ease to do the same. You are undoubtedly, wholeheartedly my partner in this life.

I love you forever.

Your Alison

Love Letters

I have decided to kick off a new series here on Short Story Long. I will be featuring love letters written to significant others, family, friends, heroes, role models, mentors, etc. Some may be emotional, some may be witty, but hopefully all will be fun to read.

To start, I am sharing a love letter I have written to my travel hero, Rick Steves. Rick started as a tour guide years ago and has since expanded his offering to various travel services ranging from classes to guide books to television shows. You can find out all about him here.

Here it goes...

Dear Rick,

I hope you are enjoying your travels, I have loved reading about them and watching your videos on Facebook. I am writing you because you are an inspiration to me. I became a fan in early 2010 after I received your DVD box-set for pledging to be a member of my local public radio station (KQED, San Francisco), and since then, I have not looked back. I love the shows and heavily relied on your Ireland guidebook when I went this past March.

To give you a bit of my background, I am a 24 year old who graduated from college just over a year ago. I graduated with excitement and anticipation for the world and adventures ahead, and anxious to find a way to merge my personal passions and career. I have found creative outlets, and continue to hope that I will be able to fully pursue my passions. I've begun to notice that each daydream and thought always seem to land on traveling. I find myself craving delicious pasta from a small restaurant in one of Rome's side streets, or wanting to dive into the warm Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece. Whenever I have these thoughts I run home, research airline prices, and watch one of your videos!

I appreciate the effort and energy you put into your productions; they are insightful and beautiful. The clips you have been posting on Facebook have been exciting as well. It's fun to feel as though we are with you along the way.

I don't want to complete this letter without saying a few things:

• I hope you make a lecture stop in the Bay Area on your way to Florida (I know it's not on your way from Washington, but a girl can dream!)
• If you ever need a production assistant, research assistant, or travel buddy through Back Door Productions, I am your person
• It would be a dream come true to hear back from you with any feedback or advice you can provide

Thank you for letting me say those things, however, I do realize that you are extremely busy and understand that you may not be able to respond. I appreciate your time and hope you enjoy safe travels.

Keep on traveling, goodbye!

Sincerely,

Stacy Ernst

Do you have any love letters you would like to share? Have you gotten a surprising result from love letters you've sent? If you would like to share your letters, let me know!