CityView Magazine

16 Januar y 2021 SOMEDAY YOU'LL THANK ME Letters To My Former Selves BY MARY ZAHRAN h Dear 1960 Mary, I am not a law yer, but I am prett y sure that the police w i l l not arrest a k indergar tener for accidental ly spi l ling mercurochrome al l over her f riend 's leg whi le attempting to administer first aid. So, catch your breath, dr y your eyes and stop hiding in the bathroom. From one worrywart to another, 2021 Mary i Dear 1970 Mary, You have miracu lously managed to be photographed during the 15 minutes when you actual ly look prett y fetching in a pair of hot pants. Enjoy your youthf u l metabolism whi le it lasts. Enviously, 2021 Mary k Dear 1971 Mary, In a contest bet ween a brick bui lding and a 1969 Ford station wagon, please understand that the bui lding w i l l always w in, no matter how much swearing you do whi le attempting to ease your parents' car through an al ley that is, and always w i l l be, too narrow for such a maneuver. Automotively yours, 2021 Mary Many people see a new year as an opportunity either to make resolutions for the coming year or to ref lect on the previous one. But why stop at ref lecting on a single year when you can ref lect on your entire past? With this question in mind, I have decided to write letters to some of my former selves as a personal reminder of how much my perspective has changed during the course of my lifetime. m Dear 1974 Mary, The next time you have a choice bet ween sleeping late or attending a private seminar w ith Aaron Copland, please resist the urge to sleep in. How many times in your life w i l l you have a chance to sit in a room w ith only a handf u l of people and enjoy an intimate chat w ith one of the greatest composers of the 20th centur y? For t y- seven years later, I sti l l want to k ick myself for this missed oppor tunit y. From your sadder but musically wiser friend, 2021 Mary d Dear 1977 Mary, The next time you have a choice bet ween seeing "A n A merican in Paris" just to admire Gene Kel ly's physique or spending three hours on the telephone tal k ing to a g uy named Sam, do exact ly what you did this time — sk ip the mov ie. For t y-four years and t wo daughters later, you w i l l never doubt that you made the right cal l. From one lucky girl to another, 2021 Mary f Dear 1978 Mary, Sometimes married couples arg ue. Get over it. Still in love af ter all these years, 2021 Mary t Dear 1980 Mary, Eventual ly, your infant daughter w i l l fig ure out the dif ference bet ween day and night and adjust her sleep schedu le accordingly. You w i l l look back on these sleepless nights w ith great fondness when your teenage daughter keeps you awake for entirely dif ferent reasons. For now, enjoy this sweet miracle before she grows up. Wishing you patience, joy and a good night's sleep, 2021 Mary h Dear 1983 Mary, While you are currently upset about leaving your life in Raleigh and moving to Fayetteville, you will soon come to love this city and embrace it as your home. You will meet interesting people from all over the world, and some of them will become good friends. One day, you won't be able to imagine a time when you didn't love this place. Wishing you grand adventures, 2021 Mary i Dear late 80s and early 90s Mary, Big Hair. Big shou lder pads. High- waisted jeans. Ugly Christmas sweaters worn w ithout a trace of irony. Whatever you do, make sure you avoid being photographed. With fond memories and a touch of embarrassment, 2021 Mary

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