For my sister and her desktop...

Sarah,
Things are going well. I don't have too much to say. Just wanted to know that I am thinking about you and all those around you. I miss home a lot. I have been thinking a lot about magic waters, food courts, cheap movies and sitting in a large couch wonderng why it is that we don't turn the air on until it is already too hot in the house. I am thinking about cool mornings and the hope that the rest of the day follows suit. Driving with windows down because the air conditioning in the car smells funny. Running around with friends in pursuit of where everyone is meeting up. The lists of chores to do while mom was at work. Day time down pours and lightning storms. Tornado sirens and the subsequent calls to the red apple to see if it was serious. Who needs a weather report when you have a mom to tell you it's alright, but really you need to stop calling me at work. Summer style and aloe vera lotion. Beach towels and secretly wanting to lay out in an attempt to change something about myself the easy way, let nature takes it course...I don't have to run around to get some color, even though it always ended up being a painful red. Cheese fries at the Riggins house and nights spent there...who knows who will show up and who knows what will happen. I miss Dad's grilling perfection and delicious potato salad and the endless tupperware containers of freshly cut fruit in the fridge...all of these things are running through my head as I sit 6,000 miles away in the wetness of Japan. I am happy over here and I would only change a few things if I had half a chance. The future is looking well lit. I don't know about anything for sure, but I am thinking that something good is going to come out of all this.
I look forward a lot. I look forward to the day when money doesn't impend my freedom. I look forward to the day when it won't be a matter of "can I come home?" but instead "I am coming home...". And in my heart I know that this time will come.
As much as it breaks my heart not to be there with all of you this summer, I can sayt that it was an amazing feeling when my whole family united in saying, "we understand". That's family 'eh?! Couldn't tell if you didn't want me or if you truly understood (I think that I'll take the optimists route).
I miss you all and I can't say how proud I am of how far we all have come. Crazy to think that something so screwy as "us" could straighten out this much. It's like driving in snow...and not going completely into the ditch.
I love you and I miss you and I will see you again soon enough.

Love your little brother...