A Letter To Giulia

Dear Giulia,

Bonjour! I’m excited to be sending this letter all the way to Paris, France! If I lived in Paris,  I’d probably write this letter on the field in front of the Eiffel Tower, while munching on a fresh baguette. Actually, I probably wouldn’t get much writing done because I’d be too focussed on the baguette. 

We have baguettes here in Canada, but I haven’t had one in a while. They are the best, aren’t they? Just a bunch of bread that’s waiting to be eaten. Now I’m hungry.

I hope you’re doing well, Giulia! It’s come to my attention that you like quotes, so throughout this letter I will be sharing some quotes with you and my commentary on them as I see fit. Cool? Cool. 

This letter may be choppy as a result and bounce all over the place. But that’s how I like it.

“It is never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Eliot

I like this quote. It lets people know they can still be the person they always imagined themselves to be, even if it’s later in life than they expected.

Though it can also lead people astray. I thought I was going to grow up and be a professional baseball player. I think by now that ship has passed and so has the strength in my right shoulder.

So, thanks for nothing, George Eliot! You dream crusher.

This may be a dumb question, but do a lot of people in France know how to speak English? I know that your blog is in English and it’s always well-written. I guess I always assumed that people in France spoke French. I’m realizing how wrong I’ve always been and am a bit embarrassed.

“If you can’t remember something, it’s not important.” – Me

That was a quote I made up specifically for my high school yearbook when I was graduating. I’ve had some people challenge me on it, but I stand by it. If something were that important to you, you would remember it no matter what.

If you can’t remember something, it must not have been that important to you, right?

Random question: have you ever fallen asleep in public before? I came close a few times the other day. I realized that blinking really fast helped keep me awake because I was forcing myself to do something. I probably looked like a lunatic, though.

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” -Yogi Berra

Wise words. You never know when you’re going to need a fork. Not every food is a finger food. This is advice the entire world needs, I think.

You told me you wanted to hear about my encounter with a Pokemon while playing Pokemon Go. Well, I’m sorry to say that I’ve never played Pokemon Go. I’m stubborn like that.

However, I have had a couple of interactions with Pokemon! I didn’t even need to play the game. 

The first Pokemon I met was a thing called a Drowzee. I found it sitting on my couch. Here’s how the exchange went.

Me: Who in the hell are you?

Drowzee: Yo dog diggity, I’m Drowzee.

Me: I’m drowsy, too. But who are you?

Drowzee: Drowzee!

Me: I know you are. But what’s your name?

Drowzee: Drowzee!

Me: WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

We did the whole “who’s on first?” routine for about 33 minutes until I got fed up and threw it out of my house. Pokemon are dumb. They are intruders. And they should all wear name tags. 

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” -Various

I don’t know if I believe this. I also don’t know who “Various” is. Not making an appointment with your doctor keeps the doctor away, too. Eating an apple isn’t the only repellent. 

The second Pokemon I encountered was Jigglypuff. I saw it at a restaurant and made the mistake of saying, “Hey, puff ball!” I then got many glares and a stern talking to.

Apparently, Jigglypuff is very sensitive whenever their weight is alluded to. I didn’t mean to poke fun at their weight by calling it, “puff ball”, I just assumed that’s what it was. 

Also, I have no idea if Jigglypuff is a boy or girl so that’s why I’ve been referring to it by anything but a gender. 

Long story, short, Jiggly P got a restraining order against me. JP claimed I was a bully. It also claimed that it wasn’t overweight because it frequently drank diet sodas. 

Clearly, I was in the wrong. Not. I didn’t even call it fat! The world is so sensitive. And so are Pokemon. Ugh.

“Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it.” -Gordon R. Dickson

That quote hits the nail on the head. Speaking of hitting nails with heads, you wanted me to tell you about the best compliment I’ve ever received, or a compliment I like to give.

I’m not someone who remembers all the nice things they’re told. At least not the generic compliments like, “you’re funny” or “you’re a really good writer.” I’ve been told both of those things, but so have a lot of people. I like compliments that separate me from the crowd.

I’ve had a couple of bloggers tell me over the last three years that they enjoy reading my blog because it helps them forget about what they’re going through in life and puts a smile on their face. That’s one of my favourite compliments. 

In terms of a compliment that I like to give, I can’t think of one off the top of my head. I don’t rehearse compliments. Whatever I feel needs to be said in a certain situation, I’ll say. 

I’d like to end this letter with one final quote. I think it’s perfect for people who blog.

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.” – Cyril Connolly. 

I hope you enjoyed this letter Giulia, whether you had a baguette and a view of the Eiffel Tower, or not. Take care, be well, and live by the quotes that you enjoy. 

Flowers and Towers,

Drowsy Paul