aka my sister Tiffany

What are you up to? I’m so excited about my house. I’m sending you another wedding picture. I have so many baby clothes. yay. I have a black & pink bed set that I think you might like. I’m not going to use it in my new house. I want you to see my house. It’s gonna be cute. I’m hoping to be living in it by the time Bentley is born. Puppy is passed out. I want you to see my wedding ring. It’s pretty. Ever since I’ve been pregnant, I have had a non-stop headache. It sucks so much fat ass.

I’m listening to music. Trent has some weird CDs. Do you like the tattoos I keep putting on your envelopes? Some of them aren’t that cute, but it’s fun to do! So, who all do you still talk to? (from Florence) Jesse keeps trying to call me, do you remember him? (Louisiana) I haven’t told him I’m married yet. I don’t really want to talk to him, though. Well, I’m gonna go now, write me back! -xoxo-

What the hell are you doing? I need your address so I can mail this to you. I hope you like my picture I gave you. I colored and drew it myself. Well, it is like 2 in the morning, and Trent has to get up at 6 or so. I’m gonna let you go, but ya write me back.

Hey, I check my mailbox every day, and every day I’m disappointed, just kidding, but you need to write me, though. If I find out you are writing anyone else and not me, I will be very angry. So what do you want for Christmas? I guess I’m gonna have to mail it to you. Oh my gosh, I was in Walmart shopping for bedspreads, and this black lady walked up to me and asked what I was having (boy or girl) and when I was due and stuff like that.

Then she walked away and came back a couple of minutes later and slipped 40 dollars into my hand and told me to buy my baby something for Christmas and tell him it came from a stranger. Isn’t that crazy? Some lady I didn’t even know gave me $40! I went back the next day and stood in the same spot and hoped it would happen again… it didn’t. I saw some cherry antenna things that I was gonna get for you, but you don’t have a car, do you? I want a robe for Christmas. Send me a fluffy robe (as long as it’s not purple, I’ll be fine).

Trent got me rolly stamps and markers. They’re cool. So, what did you do for Halloween? I did nothing. I was going to go see Saw 2, but I never did. I basically just carved pumpkins. I even carved one for Thanksgiving. My feet are so swollen they hurt. My new bed set is so fluffy and big and cozy. Trent just got home. yay. Later. xoxo

Hey, what are you doing? Well, don’t ask why I’m writing you a letter on a piece of paper with a giant archway thing on it, but I just am. Hey, what do you want for Christmas? Are you going to be down here around that time or not? I wonder! I felt Bentley move. yay. I have to be at work today at 4:00 [grr emoji]. Trent just got home on his lunch break, and he brought me some fuzzy slippers! yay. I love them. I’m sending you some pictures. I just randomly picked them. There’s some of Puppy, too. He’s so cute. I love him. I can’t wait until you are out of the Navy, that will be much better than this, but anyway, write me, ok! -xoxo-

Hey, I’m so full, I just had Taco Bell. I should be eating healthier, but I never do. I am 8 months pregnant now. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Do you have Eric’s address? If you don’t, it’s: Div 077 Ship 14 Great Lakes. It might not be the same by the time you actually get this letter, but you can try it. I love the name Bentley, it’s so cute and not average. Are you going to get any tattoos? Eric said that he’s gonna get more after he gets out of basic training. I don’t think you saw Trent’s last tattoo. He got the sacred heart of Jesus. It’s on his shoulder.

He’s going to get a sleeve eventually, fill up his whole arm. I’m just going to get my son’s name and his footprints. I’m going to finish this letter tomorrow. I’m tired, and I have to get up early. I’m back. I just finished [the] primer in the baby’s room. Tomorrow, I’m going to paint some more yellow in there. How is all that working out in your room in your apartment, or whatever you’re staying in? This little trailer we’re staying in is coming together. We just need to hook up electricity and water.

Oh, another tattoo that I’m gonna get is of a bird. It’s cute, but it’s dead. It’s got an arrow through it and a ribbon around it, and I was gonna get my mom’s name in the ribbon. I can’t wait to have this baby. I hate being pregnant. The only good thing is not having my period, well, and my boobs got bigger, now I actually have some. Those are the only two good things. There are countless downfalls to being pregnant. Don’t have a kid anytime soon. I can’t believe I’m gonna have a kid. I don’t know anything about babies. I don’t know how to hold them or what to do with them. I guess I’ll learn real quick, though. I’ll write back again some other time! Write me back. Later! -xoxo-

Hey, really just writing you because I’m bored. I write you almost every day. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you like Chamillionaire? or even any rap? I’ve been listening to that lately. I HATE BEING PREGNANT. I just called Daddy yesterday to let him know that we have electricity now, and I asked him for money for a hot water heater because I can’t come up with $200 that easily. He can buy Eric a $200 coat, but he can’t give me $100 so I can have hot water.

If he doesn’t care whether his grandson bathes in warm water, then he doesn’t deserve to see him. He doesn’t think that this trailer is good enough. He thinks we should have gotten a new one, and he could have gotten some “deal” where all we would pay was like 200 a month. Well, guess what, this one is FREE! If he has “deals” like that, how come he didn’t get us a decent house to live in. I know he could have afforded 200 a month, but NO, we had to live in the bunkhouse for 10 years. At least my son can bring his friends over and not be embarrassed by his house.

I damn sure couldn’t do that. He needs to remember what he put us through before he starts lecturing me. He doesn’t even think Trent is good enough for me, but Trent treats me like a damn Queen! He treats me way better than Daddy ever treated Sheila, so I don’t want to hear his BS. I’m almost through painting the baby’s room. I’m excited. I can’t wait to shit out this baby. I wonder what he’ll look like. Trent just got a tattoo of a skull with a cowboy hat on and a snake wrapped around it. Trent’s is a diamondback, and the original picture (a blacklight Pantera poster) just had regular snake scales. It looks good, though, I like it. Well, I’m gonna go now. W/B [write back] xoxo

Hey, at this point, I’m really not even expecting you to write me back because you NEVER do. I’m just bored, and I can’t sleep. I’ve already gotten 2 letters from Eric. That’s more than you have written me, and he’s only been gone for like a month. Do you remember that song “Wobble Wobble” by the 504 Boyz? That used to be my favorite song. I only heard part of it the other day, but I was still excited. I would have danced, but when I would get to the “drop it, drop it” part, I don’t know that I’d be able to stand back up,

I’m 9 months pregnant. I don’t think anyone wants to see me “backin’ that ass up.” When do you come down again? (Trent just asked me) A long time from now, huh?! I’m always farting ever since I’ve been pregnant. I’m so miserable. My tummy always hurts, so does my back, legs, head, and ALWAYS my feet. I have heartburn a lot. Puppy says Hi. Chevy says Hello. Bentley just kicked me like 6 times within 30 seconds. I’m tired of being kicked in the ribs. I’m getting a disposable camera tomorrow, so I’ll take some pregnant pictures and send them to you. I’m gonna try to sleep now. Goodnight. xoxo

Hey! I’m writing you because I got all excited when you called and told me you actually WROTE ME BACK. So, I figure I’ll start writing again. I don’t know why I’m typing this and not just writing it. I guess because we just got a computer in our new house and I’m all excited about it. (I’ve never played so much Solitaire in my life.) Anyway, I need stamps. You should mail me a couple, I’m out. Today was my last day to work, at least until I have the baby. I go back to the doctor’s office on Friday, and if nothing has happened by then, we are going to schedule to induce labor on Monday or Tuesday, so it won’t be more than a week before Bentley is here.

Bentley is going to be a heartbreaker. I hope he looks just like Trent. I’m trying to decide whether or not to get the epidural. I don’t like the idea of a needle in my spine, but then again, I’m pretty much going to be [pushing] a watermelon out of my coochie. I bet it’s going to be brutal! What’s going on up there in the Navy? I want you to see the trailer, it’s come a long way. We (somehow) turned this crack house into a home. The bathroom is finished, the baby’s room is done, and our room is as done as it will get. We are just working on the kitchen now.

When you came down, I think we were still running off extension cords. Now we have the septic done, and we have water. It’s awesome. I’m still planning on replacing the ENTIRE ceiling and putting a tin roof thing over the whole top of the trailer so we won’t have to worry about leaks. I also want to build a fence around the yard for the dogs, replace a window, and get central heating and air. My hands are so swollen, so are my feet! I’m swollen everywhere. I got a haircut. It’s really cute. I’ve needed my hair cut ever since I lit it on fire with a candle. I know it sounds like a dumb thing to do, but I didn’t mean to.

We cooked pancakes on Sheila’s old griddle thing. We cooked eggs, too, but they tasted like hamburger meat because Trent never cleans it after he cooks on it. Well, I really don’t either, but I hardly ever cook. We didn’t eat those eggs, they were pretty gross. We really need curtains in our living room. We’re listening to Mindless Self Indulgence right now, remember them? I’m sure you do. J called me, and I asked him if he was moving back in with the parents, and he said yes (while he goes through college). I’m thinking about going back to school, but I’m not really thinking too hard about it. You better write me back. luv ya. xoxo

Hey, I got your letters yesterday. Thanks for the gift cards. I got Bentley a nice outfit to wear to Nana’s house. It’s a onesie with a nice plaid vest-t-shirt thing and khaki pants, and I already have a baby tie that will go great with it. I also got a Bob Marley onesie and a beanie to match. It’s adorable. Then I got some 8-oz baby bottles and diapers and a camera so I can take more pictures. It helped out a lot. Your car sounds cool. I’m happy for you that you finally got one. I got the Cadillac, but I still don’t have my license yet though. If you wanted to send more gift cards, they sell baby stuff at Target and Toys R Us.

So you are finally ACTUALLY getting kinda serious with a dude? That’s cool, I just have a small piece of advice for you, if you’re not on birth control, ALWAYS WEAR A CONDOM! or make him pull out. Babies are cute WHEN THEY’RE SOME ONE ELSE’S! Just be careful, I never thought I would get pregnant, but… SURPRISE! I just had to take a 2-hour break to feed Bentley and get him back asleep. I like it best when he’s asleep. He does have big eyes, just like mommy. He just farted. I heard it. So, tell me more about this Caleb guy… you really like him?

How long have you guys been together? Does he make a lot of money? Well, as long as he makes you happy. How does it feel to be an aunt? I still can’t believe I’m a mom. I don’t recommend it. I hope you can see Bentley before you get deployed or whatever. You’ll be gone for like 6 or 8 months. That’s funny that you and Eric still call me Tig in letters. Are you bankin’ or what? That was a lot of money spent on gift cards. I don’t have anything to wear right now; it’s just sweatpants and huge T-shirts for me. Bentley likes to lie on his belly. He’s so cute when he’s not crying.

I keep thinking about what kind of parent I’m going to be. I just want to be a good mom. And I DEFINITELY don’t want to treat him like father treated us. I can’t wait until you get out of the Navy. I’m sure you can’t either. You only have like another 2 years. Sheila gave me one of those glamour-shot pictures of you and her, and practically every guy that comes over here asks who ya’ll are. They say you’re pretty, and some think that you are the mom and Sheila is the daughter. She’s 40 now, can you believe it? She looks so young. I’m gonna let you go now. Hopefully, you’ll write me again. XOXO

Hey Jess, I’m bored, so I decided to write you. By the way, I’m still waiting on a letter from you… I’m waiting until Trent gets off work and watching Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Trenton’s [wedding] ring broke a couple of weeks ago, and we had to get another one, but since we got it from Walmart, they replaced it for free. We had a year or 2 warranty. I have all these ugly clothes to wear. I mean, there are cute maternity clothes out there, but all mine (or most anyway) were given to me by Nana (you know those clothes are up-to-date) and other fat girls. I’ll write you later and keep hoping that one day you’ll find time to write me. -XOXO- love ya!

Some four-ish years later…

Dude, I can’t wait to see you. Hopefully, [the] Bears will still end up going and not change their mind or something. Dude, Papa Bear is going senile! I swear, he forgot that there was a town called “Jarrell” near Florence! WTF And trying to hold a conversation with him is ridiculous! But somehow, I feel bad for him, never thought I would because when we were younger, I had so much hatred for him. It seems like he’s really trying to be a good person and a nice one.

It’s like I don’t even know him anymore. That’s not my father who raised me. He doesn’t drink, cuss, yell, throw shit, call us names, he’s not racist. I’m telling ya, pigs are flying! I can’t wait to see California. Is it gonna be ok to swim? Just wanna make sure I pack right. What’s the weather like? What are the people like? I’m actually about to move to Georgetown, right next door to Eric and Amie, so I’m excited about that. Once I get settled, I’m [going to] start school. What are you doing these days? What [did] you go to school for again? Where [are] you working?

Well, I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you too! xoxo