Postcards & Emails

—–Email Message—–

Dear Frank,

Last week you were speaking in Portland, Oregon.  I walked in a little late to a very crowded room. You said a few words, a few more and then, suddenly, I recognized my words:

15 years-ago . . . adoption . . . 1 year-ago . . . trick or treating . . .

Tears sprang to my eyes. You were reading MY secret.  And I heard it. Everyone heard it. My heart was thumping so hard in my chest I was certain everyone could hear it too. I wanted to yell out “That’s my secret!”

I went home later, after buying a few books, and told my husband that you read my secret to hundreds of people. He smiled and hugged me.  I asked him if he wanted to know what it was.  He said; “No, a whole room full of strangers knows, and that’s enough.”

Thank you.

—–Email Message—–

Dear Frank,

I mailed in one of the secrets that made it into your book, PostSecet Confessions on Life, Death and God. Mine reads-

“When another woman steals your man, the best revenge is to let her keep him.”

Funny story, my ex-husband’s wife (the other woman) dropped my kids off at my house last week and saw my PostSecret book in the kitchen. She exclaimed,

“I love that book! Have you seen the one about stealing another person’s man? That one’s my favorite!”

She had no idea it was about her.

—–Email Message—–

Two weeks ago I was placed in a psych ward for attempting to take my own life. I was sitting alone until another boy came up to me and simply said, “You’re not the most fucked up person anymore.” For the first time in my life I didn’t feel like I was the only one struggling.

 
—–Email Message—–

Frank, The message about the girl in the psychiatric hospital with the boy who let her in on the secret that she isn’t alone. I’m the girl. I sent you that 8 years ago. Two weeks after my suicide attempt. It stopped me in my tracks to see it again. I sent it to you on a whim. I can’t remember why. I struggled hard for a few years after this. I struggle still but am stable now. Thank you for honoring me and all of us in what you do.