dear pratt.

let me just say here that i don't think i'm going to die anytime soon or anything...but a few things have been on my mind...and i need to jot them down. this is pratt's baby book, and so instead of writing them down on paper, i'll put them here. this will all be compiled into a nice book at the end of 2009. so bear with me, please. i'm sure some of you are not at all interested in this...and for that, i'm sorry.

pratt,

i talk to you often. i talk to you while we're driving. while i'm giving you a bath. while you're eating. i tell you so much. so many things. funny stories. sad stories. things that have happened to me over the years. pretty much, you've heard it all. well, not all of it...but lots of it. but there are a few things i want to put in writing. a few pieces of advice that i think maybe you'll appreciate one day. a few things that i've been told...and other things that i've discovered on my own. here goes...

go to college. and don't worry so much about what you're going to "be". more importantly, enjoy it. figure out who you are. don't take yourself too seriously. you'll be young. and you won't have everything figured out. don't expect to. it would be silly and sad if you did. make friends in college. good ones. ones that you can laugh with. and even....maybe cry with. this will be an opportunity for you to pick the friends you want. this is a good thing. many of my best friends are from college. don't worry so much about your grades. yes, they are important. but relax.

here's a funny story. my freshman year i was in zoology. i had studied and studied and studied for a test in there. and i was exhausted. the night before the test, i began to review, and realized that i didn't know anything. my mind was seriously going blank. i was frantic. i called my dad and told him the situation. he said (and i quote), "hannah, run yourself some bath water...and get a cold beer. get in the bath, drink the beer, and go to bed."

yes, he really said that. and no, i didn't do any of those things. he reminded me that "one silly zoology test grade" didn't matter that much. and that ten years from then, i wouldn't remember what i made. he was right, i don't remember. i should have taken his advice. he is a smart, smart man.

back to the list, always apologize. be the first to apologize. get right up in someone's face and say you're sorry. even if it's hard. it's totally worth it.

try to never judge someone based on their beliefs. this is a hard one. but such a good one. you don't want them judging you. hear what they have to say. don't be rude or critical. share what you believe and go from there. you catch more flies with honey. remember that.

on a lighter note, go to as many concerts as you can. support live music. even if this means going to smoke filled bars to see it. it will probably be worth it. one of the best concerts i've ever been to was a jay farrar concert in memphis. in this really seedy joint. it was smokey and the bathrooms were horrible and the bottoms of my jeans got incredibly dirty...but it was totally worth it. totally.

never allow yourself to feel as though you're superior to anyone else. having said that, never forget the uniqueness of yourself. you are the only you. this is important. this should make you feel incredibly special. it's all about balance. you'll figure it out. i still haven't...

don't stop loving because of a broken heart. this is all i want to say here. this could be a whole other blog...on a whole other day. and i'm sure one day it will be.

family will (hopefully) be the most important thing in your life. family will never leave you. no matter what you're going through, they are there. waiting on you to ask for help.

never be ashamed to admit that you're having a hard time with something. to me, being able to be honest...even when you're afraid of how the other person will react, is quite possibly one of the most cathartic experiences one can have. it will teach you so much about yourself...and even more about those that you are surrounded by. those you call your friends. true character is revealed with this.

this may all seem overwhelming. difficult. even impossible. and doing these things may send you down the road less traveled...in the end, i think you'll see that this road truly will make all the difference. (props to mr. frost :)