An Open Letter To My Stepmom

This is long overdue.

I know you and I haven't always seen eye to eye. I know I acted out a lot in my younger years...and older. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to be a step parent given those situations. I'm sorry for any time I may have made you feel unappreciated or when I was just plain cruel. I'm sorry it took me so long to get my crap together. But when I did, I couldn't have been more grateful. You've shown me kindness and forgiveness over the years and I value that very much. When I was 17 and had recently gotten out of HSC, you took me to the movies. I don't remember the movie, but the memory of how good I felt stays with me to this day. Although it doesn't happen too often, I truly enjoy when we chat, whether over email, playing with Patches, or in the kitchen getting a lesson on how to use the Keurig. Thank you for displaying patience with me. I love you and I'm glad to call you my stepmom. I was always too afraid to say anything because I felt like I would upset my mom, but she knows that you are important to me... And you should know too! Happy Mother's Day!
Love,
Gayle

Help when able

I've always been the type of person who will stop someone that I can see is clearly in pain and try to help. whether that is physical or emotional pain. I do not like seeing someone suffer. Tonight, I was standing outside of Luckys after work and a young man walked by clearly hurting. He was covered in blood and had a gash about three centimeters long on his forehead dripping in blood. I stopped him while he was walking and asked him if he was OK..before I saw what the real damage was. He said no and kept walking..clearly upset. I asked him what happened and to please stop. He was very hesitant but needed help. He knew he did. When he walked to me I saw all of the damage. I saw all of the blood that was pouring from his forehead.. there was so much of it. I had clean napkins to press his wound & was able to get his name. I alerted staff from the closed bar to attempt to get assistance. I learned about him and his family while asking questions to keep him calm while we waited for police and emt. I learned this innocent man was jumped by 4 people while he was having a drink with his twin sister. That disgusts me. That means there are four assholes that live in this town. Who would do that to someone unprovoked? All this guy cared about was that his sister was okay because he lost her in the fight as he tried to run to get away from those people. (He was able to get a hold of her with my phone and thankfully she is safe!)

It's not ok guys. If you see someone hurting and you have the ability to help, please do! Find out how you can help. This world full of shitty people but it is also full of good people. I implore you to be one of those good guys to help someone when they need it or cheer someone up when they're sad. Try to do the right thing when you see someone wronged..just because you may be strangers, doesn't mean you shouldn't help. It's a basic human right to be treated with respect. I hope that if you are ever in a tough situation, someone will do everything in their power to be there for you.