A Letter To Shaz

Dear Shaz,

No need to pinch yourself, this isn’t a dream. This is the letter you’ve been asking me for for the last eight years two months. Try to contain your excitement. And if you can’t, take ten seconds to jump up and down. 

10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – you better be jumping – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 and a half – 1 – o.

Alright, stop jumping!

I must admit, I have put a lot of pressure on myself to not mess this letter up. Unlike everyone else, you didn’t give me anything specific to write about. You just said I should know you well enough to write a letter to you about whatever I want.

Careful what you wish for, Shaz! My mind has a mind of its own. 

You do realize we’ve know each other for over three years, right? You are the blogger who has been reading my blog the longest. Ever since that post I wrote about missing school in September 2013. 

That was so long ago, yet I still remember reading the comment you left on that post and feeling like I had made a difference in someone’s life. It was the first time I ever really had someone say that to me.

The comment you left was: “This is awesome. I just started my second year of college, and I have been groaning every morning. Your post was a wake up call!”

Shaz, your second year of college! You’re in grad school now! GRAD SCHOOL!

I think you know this, but I just want to say that I’m proud of you. I’ve seen you grow in so many ways over the last three years, just by reading your blog. 

Whenever you give recaps of your day or week, you list about eighty-three different things you had to do, whether it’s school work, presentations in front of crowds, organizing events, performing on stage, getting on a plane, or texting a guy in your phone who has an alias on your blog. 

Reading your blog is like reading a script for a TV show, starring you and these “men”, with cameo appearances by your family and friends. I’m always amazed that you can remember each and every conversation clearly enough to write them down later. 

Speaking of which, the first thing I noticed about your blog (three years ago) was that you had a page called, “Code Names For Guys”. I still think that’s hilarious. 

If you don’t mind – and I know you don’t because I asked you – I’m going to go through some of the guys that you’ve been talking about over the last three years and give my thoughts on them.

Don’t take this too seriously. 

Heart – Seemed like a good guy at one point and then he got scared like a 4-year-old in a haunted house. Ever thought about changing his code name to “Root Canal”?

Prince Player – Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t girls want princes in shining armour? Oh wait, I am wrong! Knights. Knights in shining armour! Darn, that ruins the whole thing. 

I don’t know, I feel like you could use Hugh Hefner as an alias for this guy and the shoe and bathrobe would fit. As soon as you call someone a “Player”, it’s not meant to be.

Whenever you mention him, all I picture is the early 2000s and kids dancing to hip-hop music with lyrics they don’t know the meaning to. 

But I’m sure he’s nice.

K – The newest guy on your blog. Didn’t I tell you back in May or so, that by this time of year there would be new guys in your life and new code names on your blog? I’m 100% sure that I did. 

This guy flops on you a lot, doesn’t he? Sounds like you have to stop saying K, and figure out Y.

I know you’ve already asked him what’s going on, but I just had to make that play on letters joke. Let me have it. 

I’m not going to tell you how to deal with him, you’re smart enough to figure that out on your own. Plus, I don’t know him. 

All I’ll say is, if things go downhill, make his code name, “L”. For Loser. K?

Mr. Photography Dude – This guy seems cool. I’m glad he’s your friend. I just feel bad that his code name is so long. Can I make some other suggestions? Good. 

“Lifeline” – He always seems to be there whenever you need to talk to someone and knows exactly what to say, just like the “phone a friend” lifeline on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

“Cheese” – He takes pictures right? All photographers tell people to say “cheese” at some point. 

“O2” – He calms you down and helps you get through things. Some would say he helps you breathe. O2 is Oxygen. I know you know that, but I just want to apply my Grade 9 Science knowledge in the real world, for once, so I can say it wasn’t a waste of time. 

I’m sure there are others, but those are the main four guys I thought I’d comment on. 

Your life sounds so busy, I don’t know how you make time to blog. Then again, you seem to stay up late like I do, which is why we have our blog interactions at weird times like 3AM. 

But hey, that’s just one of the similarities we share. Which reminds me, remember when we came to the conclusion that we live parallel lives? Just in separate countries and with a million differences, but parallel. 

And then there was that time when we realized we had telepathy. We both posted a comment at the same time, saying the same thing. That was spooky, and not in the Halloween kind of way either. 

And then that lead to me trying to guess which Britney Spears song you were listening to and my first guess was going to be “Toxic”, but I guessed something else. Then you told me you were listening to “Toxic” and I replied in all caps. 

Spooky I tell you!

What a friendship. 

You’re listening to a Lady Gaga song as you read this, aren’t you?

And now to close…

If I know anything about you, it’s that you’re capable of absolutely anything. I’m sure of it. I’ve seen you accomplish your goals while dealing with so many obstacles, speed bumps, and long texts from guys who don’t know what grammar is. 

If you ever find yourself doubting your abilities, I want you to think back to the person you were when you left that comment on my blog in 2013. And compare that person to the person you are now. 

From my side of the screen, the difference is night and day. You seem so much stronger and sure of yourself than you’ve ever been. Keep fighting. Keep growing. And keep following the dreams in your heart. 

I wish you happiness, health, and horses. Because who couldn’t use a few horses to get them through life?

Actually, I just needed a third word that started with “H” and it wasn’t going to be Heart, so I went with horses. I’m sure you don’t mind. 

With a sense of humour,

Paul