Dear Me,

You're 7 years old and your grandparents are your best friends. You've spent the last 2 years learning the greatest "life lessons" from Grandma on how to be a big girl. She let's you wear her pearl earrings every Sunday to Mass. She gives you a ring on your first day of school, you'll keep it forever. But please remember not to let your sister "borrow" it one day. She won't return it for 2 years and it will be pretty beat up. But most of all, remember to tell your grandparents how much you love them, and love spending time with them. They'll go to pick you up one day during summer vacation, you won't be home, but you'll never see them again. And the people who murdered them, will still be alive.

Now you're 9. You've gotten holiday cards from Grandma Frances and Grandpa Nick for almost every thing you could imagine. You talk to them on the phone a lot, but you haven't seen them since you were 5. Make sure and bug your parents to take you on a trip to see Grandpa at least once in this time. You need to say goodbye before your dad shows up at your school crying when he has the stroke.

You're in 5th grade now. You finally have your first major crush. Well beware sweetie, you will be crushing on this guy for the next 5 years of your life. Please tell yourself over and over that he's a complete asshole. Yes, you can use that word. Nobody is going to die because of it. Remember that nobodys friendship is worth this guy. Including Jazmin. She will go on to be the best friend you ever had. She is amazing.

You're in 7th grade now. You've met that girl Angela. And Yasmin. You guys will definitely be best friends for the next 6 years. I can't tell you much beyond that, because it's here I'm at now. But from the looks of things, nothings changing anytime soon.

You're in 8th grade and being one of the captains of your color guard team is the one thing you want more than anything. I'm going to be blunt, you don't get it. Save yourselve the tears and drama for the whole year and just have fun with the team.

9th grade and you think you're "in love" with Chris. YOU'RE NOT. Please, please, please, PLEASE do not give something so precious like that to him. You're going to regret it. When Grandma Frances gets sick and you go to Texas, please don't bug your parents to go home. Chris will be there when you get back. He's not waiting for you. He's with Alexis. Hug Grandma and tell her you love her. It will be the last time.

You're a sophomore now and you like this Marco guy. GO FOR IT. Don't doubt yourselve. He's shy at first, you might need to come up to him first, for the first week or so, but it's so worth it. He is going to teach you so many things about yourself, he's going to become your best friend, he's going to make you laugh, cry and scream more than you ever have in your life so far. Spend as much time as you can with him, he makes you the happiest. Bring him around your family more, they'll like him and he'll feel appreciated. And when you meet your "best friend" Aron, do NOT fall for him. Marco will catch on, and you'll let him go as fast as you can. And eventually you will hurt him, even if he did the break-up. You ill hurt yourself a lot more though. In 3 years you will still be thinkng about him. And GET THIS! You know how he's always making fun of your brother, your brother and Armin are going to become best friends and he's going to be there A LOT. But don't make that promise to stay best friends with Marco, it wont happen and it will break your heart.

It's summer now. Marco's going to call you for the first time in months. But a week later you will see Marco with that new girl. You're going to cry all day long. In Hannah's arms, Aron's arms and Jazmin's. But you should really go with Jazmin to the beach the next day to see that one guy Carlos for his birthday. I know you don't like him at all, but eventually he will become the one person you turn to. He will be your best friend. And you will spend 2 years of your life making amazing memories with him. But don't smother him. I know you're scared to lose him, but it only pushes him away. You need him a lot more than you think.

You're in 11th grade now, Hannah's your bestestest best friend, for the time being. Make as many memories with her as you can. And don't let your grades drop because you want to ditch school to go see Carlos, or stay uplate on the phone with him instead of homework. Just trust me on this one. In April, when your dad asks you if it's okay if he goes to Vegas for 3 months to get back on his feet financially, tell him NO! It is the worst thing that could ever happen to you or your family. He will end up being there for 2 years, you will listen toyour mom cry herself to sleep every night, and you ill go through major depression your senior year.

You're a Senior now, it's the end. Go out with your friends more. Those birthdays and stuff that Alexis and the girls throw, GO. You don't want to be the outcast of the group. You wil have fun. I promise. Yasmin is the best person you know, and she's going to help you with a lot of problems you have coming up. When you're depressed, do whatever you can to go to school. You think that the classes don't matter, but I promise they do. And at graduation, whether your grandmas waiting at home or not, take pictures with your friends, all of them, and say goodbye.

College. Its you're 2nd week now and you get in a fight with Carlos. You cry so hard you start throwing up, You can't sleep and you go to sleep at 4am just to wake up at 6am. You get to school and tell yourself you can't make it the rest of the day. You throw up in the bathroom. But that's IT. You don't get sick anymore. DON'T TAKE THAT BUS HOME. You WILL regret it. You will never be so confused in your life if you go home. You're family will look down on you for it, and you won't get that 2nd chance that you're told you will be given. Just don't.

You're stronger than you think. More people love you than you can even think of. Tell your parents how much you love them, give them hugs, and talk to them. Because one day you will look at your mom and cry, and the most you'll get from your dad is a text a day, maybe. He loves you, he'll just have a new life with his girlfriend. Try to convince your sister to get a job sometime too, you don't want to watch your niece and nephew live off food stamps for 8 months. Get a job when you're 16, their is going to be a time when getting a job is REALLY hard, and with no experience, it's even harder. But it ill be when you need it the most. Laugh more, cry less. Don't eat when you're bored. And find good music anytime that you can. Never use the word regret. And when you think about your grandparents, you don't ALWAYS have to cry. They're happy now. If you would have found this saying earlier, you would have been a lot happier before. Live by it:

1. Whoever comes are the right people.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
4. When it's over, it's over.