Tag Archives: letters

Sep 22 2011

Sliding Doors

Dear Lala,

Last night, the two versions of you that exist (in 2031) did something you may find unusual – we met for coffee. This is possible because of a collaboration of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, with the aid of some crazy book Steve Jobs left in his will. You will probably be surprised to learn that most people do not have two versions of themselves – only the ones who have the most to gain or lose. Most people do very well in their mediocrity, and thus, mediocrity is their only path. However, you are a girl who has always wanted to maximize her options.

The two of us came to the conclusion that I alone should write this letter. We didn’t want to ruin that whole positive, optimistic vibe you’ve got going with Mon’s (pronounced MOAN) tale of struggle, distance, envy of others’ opportunities, and grief of all she got wrong. She got a lot wrong. This is the short list – thinking that the world’s problems were too large for her to tackle and that she wouldn’t connect with the right people at the right time to enact some profound, world-altering, life-affirming change.  She stopped thinking that her words mattered, that her gifts mattered. She stopped making music. She stopped writing. Then, she just stopped having ideas. Mon’s story broke my heart because, although she looks like she lives a decent life, on the inside she is completely, utterly defeated.

So, that leaves me. And I’m having the time of my life. I’ve written books and plays, created television shows, released a few records (yeah, we went back to that) and produced movies. All focused on making the world better and being positive. I have worked extensively as a lawyer and a journalist, and as part of the Innocence Project, I have helped hundreds of wrongfully convicted men and women be vindicated and set free. Two short years ago, I spoke before Congress in a hearing that ultimately got the death penalty abolished in the United States. I’ve won lots of awards, and my work allows me to live quite comfortably, but knowing that no one else will die at the hands of a government that should protect them is my second greatest accomplishment.

My greatest accomplishment is Marshall. He is in the family business of civil rights activism. Four generations strong. As a lawyer and documentary filmmaker, he uses his compassionate heart and razor-sharp vision to make movies that make a difference. He just won an Oscar. I was there, holding his dad’s hand on my left, and his wife’s hand on my right. It was a magical night.

Lala, Mon and I know you have a lot to sort out. You have so many questions about how this all gets accomplished. We want you to remember what your mom told you about faith the size of a mustard seed. Remember that God will not let you see it if He won’t help you be it.

Here’s hoping that you decide to grow up to be me. I’m kind of awesome.

Futuristically Yours,

LaMonique

Jun 17 2011

What More Can I Say?

Dear Har-old,

American author Mark Twain wrote, “Generally, the fewer the words that fully communicate or evoke the intended ideas and feelings, the more effective the communication.”

Reading the old letters I wrote you bulbed a light.

Besides being inconsistent, how can I make YOU read the old letters?

Postscript.

P.S. is only at the end of 2 of the 36 letters. But that’s the genius part about it because the writer writes again and the reader reads again.

P.S. will be for things I wanted to say but glad I didn’t say because it would’ve messed up the flow of the letter. But there’s a catch…

I won’t write it in the same sitting I wrote the letter.

It may be a week from then. Two weeks. Three weeks. A month. Two months. AND …

P.S. will CONSTANTLY be updated.

So there will be days where there’s not a NEW letter but an UPDATE to a previous letter’s P.S.

What more can I say?

PLENTY!

Futuristically yours,

Har+new

P.S. Now it’s 3 out of 37. I got some catching up to do.

Jun 14 2011

Forgot Your Password?

password hell

Password Hell

Dear Har-old,

Australian musician Michael Hutchence said,  ”It’s just as difficult to live in a self-made hell of privacy as it is to live in a self-made hell of publicity.”

You have been really giving me the Erica Albright as of lately:

“The internet’s not written in pencil, Mark, it’s written in ink.”

Do you only hear blah blah blah Har-old, blah blah blah Har-old, blah blah blah Har-old?

Seriously?

You take things so personal you totally MISS the words surrounding your name.

I will NOT apologize.

I am NOT changing my writing style.

I have balanced the pen on the paper well between them lines of Har-old and the rest of the world.

Yes! You ARE unique, you ARE special, you ARE different, you ARE great BUT you are relatable, kid.

I’m using that as bait, don’t you see?

Hell, if you think I’m being too “personal” in these letters you haven’t read nothing yet.

I wouldn’t dare … or would I???

I WOULD!

But …

I got sympathy for my “old” self and I will give you complete control over these Too Personal To Publicize letters.

I will give you a password and who you share that password with is in your  total control.

But I have a feeling it’s going to be no one at all. It’s a reason why I’m calling them Too Personal To Publicize. But if you do share it, I advise people who you’re already close to or people who you want to get close to … those lucky individuals!

The only thing I will make public about these Too Personal To Publicize letters is the headline.

Now this doesn’t mean I will stop writing the standard letters. The standard letters will still be consistent.

The Too Personal To Publicize letters will be slow.

Why?

Because turning a sheet of paper into a mirror takes time.

You have been warned.

I RULE WITH A IRON FIST!

Futuristically yours,

Har+new