Category Archives: Letters

Open letter to Mr. President

Leave a reply

Dear President Obama,

I needed to just take a moment to thank you before your term is truly over.  I, along with many others, wish you didn’t have to go.  I feel like this is one of the world’s worst break ups – where no matter how much I beg and cling to your leg sobbing uncontrollably, you are still going to move on.  You have to – I know. I just wish the one following in your position has an ounce of your greatness.

You have set a high bar for us all to live up to. You have shown unbelievably humility and strength in what I cannot imagine were an easy eight years. You had walls built up all around you as Republicans played their childish games, hating anything you came up with just because it was attached to you in some way.  I don’t know why they disliked (or dislike) you so much. Regardless of that, you were the people’s president, and you will always be.  We chose you. And it pained me that they couldn’t accept that and work together like grown-ups. My 5th grade students show more sense than Congress did at times.

During your term, you were compassionate. You spoke intelligently, and from the heart. You made us laugh. You cried with us. I don’t have any clue of what’s to come but I know that it won’t be what we’ve been blessed with for the last eight years.  You chose an amazing woman to be your partner in life and together raised two beautiful young women. You go, Barry!

As I mentioned, I am a teacher of 10 year old minds.  This is has been a very challenging time to teach as the children had so many questions, concerns, and fears, and for once in my career, I had no answers for them.  The day after the election I was numb to the results and told the kids that we just weren’t going to talk politics that day.  As a teacher, I can’t let my feelings shadow their thinking. I have to be objective to help them make decisions for themselves. But between us, I’m dreading this guy coming in.  I certainly didn’t pick him. I don’t know what the people were thinking as he spoke such ignorant words of hate and disgust.  I’m really nervous about what’s to come in the days and years ahead for all of us.

So, it’s time for me to let you go.  Again, thank you for all those warm, fuzzy feelings, the comfort, the hope.  Best wishes to you all on the other side!

Love Jenny

Open letter to bicycle tour groups

Leave a reply

Dear Groups of Tourists on Bicycles,

How wonderful that you think the city I call home is worthy of your vacation time.  This city is pretty awesome. We appreciate you contributing your hard-earned monies to our local economy. And that rather than add more vehicular congestion to our already crowded streets, you have decided to tour the city in a more up-close way on bicycles.

As a runner, it is clear to me that many of you might not have been on a bike in a really long time. I’m not judging by your appearance but rather your cycling skills and courtesies.  Or perhaps it’s more about your lack of the latter.  This letter is primarily focused at those of you who ride in large packs of 10-20 riders and feel you can take up entire sidewalks.  Well, please don’t do that.  You need to share the road/sidewalk.  Stay to your right; pass on the left. Don’t ride five across. Have a little consideration for others.  Thankfully, most of you do not ride at high speeds (I will write to those cyclists on another day).  But you need to remember that there are other people in the space where you are, that have every bit of a right to utilize those paths as you do, and we need to both be able to share them.

One day, I was running along the Marina path.  I was staying to the right, alongside the grass, because that’s where I belonged.  I noticed there were some riders approaching me from the opposite direction, also riding alongside the grass.  In case you didn’t know, the hand that makes the “L” is your left; you need to stay to your right.  Most of you thankfully did veer right as you neared me shuffling in your direction…except for that last girl.  Yes, the houses along Marina Drive are interesting to look at, even worthy of our envy.  However, please do not gawk at them while you are biking because you were coming right at me but had no clue.  I grabbed your handlebars. My legs momentarily straddled your front wheel until I was able to climb around it.  You had a look of surprise on your face that I was even there; I suspect the look on my face called you a profane word or two.  You are on a moving vehicle – you need to pay attention to the road, not the pretty houses.  If your intent is to sightsee, then get a tandem bike and let one of your fellow travelers focus on the road so you can let your mind wander.  I get it: this city is worthy of wandering eyes. But please don’t do it while riding and especially not while riding on the wrong side of the path.

I don’t know if the bike rental companies share biking courtesies with you or not; it is my hope that they do.  If not, let’s keep it simple: stay to your right, ride no more than 2 across, keep your eyes forward.

Love, Jenny