6/27/10

"Dear Stranger,

Stop. Take a deep breath. Hold it. Hold it until you think your lungs will burst. Let it out. Relax. Breath in again.

Sometimes we forget that. Exactly what breathing feels like. The sensations we experience. Right now, I am laying on my stomach in my bed. I'm in my room with blue walls & black furniture. In my house in a town I call Bumblefuck. I feel the air circulating around me, pushed by a little fan. I feel the freedom of my bare feet dangling over the edge of my bed. I feel the ache in my chest & stomach from the loss of the boy I love. I taste the lingering sweetness of fresh strawberries &  vanilla ice cream. I smell the coconut shampoo used to wash my hair. The comforting scent of clean laundry coming from my pillows. I hear my dogs barking & my healthy lungs working. I see my book shelf, covered with thousands of pages with words that tell stories of all kinds. I see my shaking hand slide across the page that you now hold. 

Have you let go of that breath yet?

Your life will be difficult. You might get scared & feel like it's impossible. But you have to believe that somehow, someday, everything will be okay. And to get that far, you have to breath.

So get comfortable. I mean really, I-never-want-to-move-from-this-spot comfortable.

Ready? Breath.

What do you feel?

Taste?

Smell?

Hear?

See?

Is it beautiful? I hope it is.

Love always, "

Want to submit a letter?

6/20/10

Before I post today's letter, I would like to pose a question. Does anyone think I should post digital submissions as well as physical ones? It would be more convenient, but I think it would subtract from the novelty of the site. I would love to hear your thoughts.

So, *drum roll* here is today's letter! It's interesting to note that the handwriting is seemingly female:

"Dear Stranger,

    I want to tell you about a girl that somehow stole my heart, a friend that isn't even aware of my love for her. I slept beside her last night just breathing- drinking her in. Feeling the heat roll off her in waves to crash into me, my fingers twitched with wanting desire – the urge to touch her -where? how? what to say? I've been struggling for breath since she took my breath away. Gasping lungs, breath hitched; the thought of our first kiss.
    I wish I could describe her to you – indulge you in my fantasies but you could never see her like I see her, I don't think anyone can. I see past every front she throws up – I see into her – the core of her – hot against my cold skin. The taste of her – raw on my tongue, from another wasted fantasy. Wasted because she's not interested wasted because I get so jealous just thinking about it. I love her – I hate her. I hate the way she says THAT name like a secret with just a ghost of a smile over her lips – a hushed sound – protected and guarded – I want to be her secret! I hate her for hating herself for not listening when I says she's beautiful for disregarding every long lingering glance. THEY'D NEVER SEE YOU LIKE I DO – you're beautiful. You dress yourself up for them but for me you can be natural, true and pure. You can throw your hair up in a scruffy pony tail leaving just your fringe and a scattering of hair loose – you can forgo the eyeliner – your eyes are so stunning alone – you could dress in rags and for once not look 'perfect' and I still wouldn't find a flaw – my hands would itch to run through you hair, lips demanding tastes! Side bye side our hands brush and you recoil from the cold but you smirk to yourself at the lingering feeling – I love that look- That saucyness – bold as brass – washed away to a violent blush if I only quirk my eyebrow at you. I love your innocence, that naivety so nice – so sweet. So young yet worldly – live before – broken in.
    I want you to know that it hurts when you date
    I want to confess how hot I find your teeth
    I want to tell you that I drown in your eyes,
    I want to tell you!
I promised last night;
    “If her lovely eyes are open I'll tell her.” - Your eyes were closed leaving me with the hushed sound of your breathing and the kiss of your breath. I watched your chest rise – quicker than mine – I saw life flow through you – bursting out your pores – A sun – radiating your glory. I could just talk to you all day – snuggle into pillows and whisper to you until morning.

I'd never let anyone hurt you- I'd protect you – especially from me. You'd never have to fear this voice or these eyes because when I look at your smile, I falter and my voice cracks. Because when you look at me I have to reconnect my sentences – Dot my T's and cross my i's – Sometimes you're too perfect to be true, and I cling to the knowledge that no one knows you like I do. You relax in my presence – recline into my embrace – words flow between the gaps in our persons – so close but so far apart. I feel the distance in our silences how far I can travel yet you stay grounded for your next word – I long to unleash you – release you – free – wild abandon. ME – Chose Me!

BECAUSE WHEN I'M NOT WITH YOU – I'M NOT LIVING – I'M NOT BREATHING AND MY HEART IS NOT BEATING. EVERYTHING BUT TIME STOPS! TIME DRAGS ON AND ON – MAKES ME CRAVE YOU MORE – IF I HAD BREATH TO SCREAM – I BEG YOU TO RESTART MY FROZEN BODY – BREATHE LIFE INTO ME AGAIN. POUR YOUR BLOOD INTO MY MOUTH AND DRINK YOU LIKE A DRUG – LIKE OXYGEN. SURVIVING ISN'T THE POINT; YOUR LOVE IS DESTRUCTIVE – DESTRUCT ME!! ASSEMBLE ME – ID LAY CRUMPLED AT YOUR FEET- WAITING FOR YOUR GLORIOUS LUNGS TO DISPERSE THAT BREATH YOU STOLE IN OUR FIRST KISS – HEAVENELY TORTURE – HEAVENLY PAIN – WAITING FOR THE WARMTH TO DIFUSE THROUGH MY CAPILLARES TO MY SWELLING HEART – WAITING FOR YOUR BAITED BREATH TO SPILL SWEET OBSCENITIES INTO MY ATTENTIVE EAR – YOUR WORDS LIKE POISON (?) TO MY LIPS DRAW OUT SUCH VULGARITIES (?) AS THIS:
    I LOVE YOU

    I need you to feel me too – feel the core of you against my own – our souls CRUSHED TOGETHER – US. Flawless in lines of pale and tanned where you stop and I begin.

    So Stranger if you ever see her (you'll know) tell her how much  she is loved because it's lonely on my side of the bed.

Love from the laughter

xxx
<3"

Here is a description of the project, and the address to submit your letters to.

6/13/10

"Dear Stranger,

I want you to know that there are beautiful things in this world. There are sunrises and sunsets, flowers and snowflakes. There are fresh apples, fields of grass, and bridges over still water. There are strangers who stop to hold the door, and writing on walls.

Sometimes I forget.

- Anonymous"

(I'm out of town and do not have access to my scanner at the moment, but I will have an image of this one up ASAP.)

6/7/10

"Dear Stranger,

I feel like a useless pebble mixed in with the sand. How would I ever be noticed by the vast ocean? Among so many others, what are the chances of someone picking me up, and admiring me? Putting me in their pocket like a good luck charm. Something to cherish. There is no one I have loved more than this one flawed and lonesome stone. I was only a pebble to him too, but I will carry him for the rest of my life. 
 ~A Stranger"

Have a story you want to tell? Send in your letter!