Expectations

April 7, 1995

Dear Valette,

When you get this letter, I expect that you have been through High School (with Honors) and either in college, or out of college. Right now, it is the end of my eighth grade year — I am 14. My ambitions are to go to Medical school, achieve my MD, and set up a pediatric clinic in Homer, Alaska. I also plan to be married with children. How much of that have you completed? I’m not going to say that you should drive a red porsch, or have a hampster named Fluffy. But, a porsch would be nice. (hint, hint)

I have a very close relationship with my family. If you have drifted away, please take my advice and straighten everything out.

Keep in touch with Sarah & Holly. If you haven’t, write to them.

Peace, Love, Happiness

Valette McLay


My junior high advanced studies teacher had us write these letters to our future selves. She saved them for ten years, and I got mine today. I had wondered about this letter perhaps six months ago, but had since forgotten about it. My fourteen-year-old self was bossy, confident, and refused to capitalize Porsche.

I remember when writing this that I could not visualize exactly how old I would be in 2005, so I wrote a bunch of generalizations. Perhaps I should get a hamster and name it Fluffy.

17 September 2005 · 21:23:06

8 love notes

Wow, what a cool teacher. Thats such a great idea, wish I had one! Wonder how many letters actually made it back to the students. If Marty and I ever have kids you should remind me to make them do one.

Do you think there was ever a teenage girl out there who didn’t sign a note with “love, peace, & happiness” or some variation?

love, Kiana at 17sep05, 22:46:22

I remember doing something like this my senior year…

If Lacey is ammenable, I’d definately go get a hamster.

love, klondike.kate at 17sep05, 22:57:27

I actually drew the ‘peace, love, happiness’ bit, but couldn’t find an HTML peace sign entity to include there.

love, Valette at 18sep05, 10:25:15

I dunno. I’d think a Porche could be very affordable at your age.

love, jr at 18sep05, 11:11:12

Wow Sarah and Holly.. I honestly forgot about those people.

love, Danielle at 18sep05, 13:58:28

It took me quite a while to even remember who ‘Sarah’ was.

love, Valette at 18sep05, 15:18:34

That really was a great idea, I wish one of my teachers had thought to do that.

love, Lynne at 19sep05, 14:45:58

I had a “children and self esteem” teacher do this. We had to write letters to our children for the future….it was the “death and dying” teacher that had us write one to ourselves…he did mail the letters I got mine a year ago or so…..funny how our goals change with reality.

love, at 20sep05, 03:53:26

leave me a love note


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