Yeah, it’s a conversation. And I guess it is all one-sided. But there is a point to it. I know, it’s hard to believe, but there is. No, it’s not to try to guess what the other side is saying. It’s to take a moment and look at what you say. Look, I’m not trying to tell you how to write the damn letter. I’m just trying to help, ok.

Yeah, I know. You’re right, Mom. Mom… Mom! Will you stop a minute and listen to me? No, I’m not going to go away. Will you just stop and listen? I didn’t go to college for nothing, you know! Yeah, you see this degree, it’s kinda good for something. And it’s not just looking pretty on the wall. Yeah. Ha, ha! Laugh it up, I’m serious.

If you take a step back and look at what you write, you can really make it sing. No, Mom, words can sing. How do you think I do it? No, it’s not just because I’m talented. It’s because I try. You give up before you even put your pen down on the paper. Come on! You can’t give up like that. So what, you’re now going to tell me that you can’t get up and make dinner too because the pot roast gets burned once in a while?

Did you ever think that the problem wasn’t you but your equipment? No, not with the roast. Mom! Jeeze, will you listen to me? Yeah, I’m twenty! You think I may have.. No, Mom, I’m not telling you that there’s something wrong with you. No, the letter sounding bad isn’t the pen. Oh, come on! For Christ’s Sake!

I’m sorry. Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t swear.

Look, Mom, you just need to change the way you say it. That’s all. He’ll understand better if you say it like that. Look, see here. See how I’ve rewritten that sentence? Yeah, look at that, see how much easier it is to read it?

No, Mom. No, I’m not going to write it for you. No! No! I’m not going to do it. You’re not going to dictate and I’m not going to write. You are going to write it yourself. Tell Dad how you feel. Look, it’s been how many years? Can’t you get it out of the way and just say how you feel? I know you miss him.