To Some Ex's.

Friday, February 3, 2012


A little while ago, a friend shared a list of "30 Things to Blog About" on her Pinterest board. I used the list when writing in my journal. It's actually that list that inspired my guilty pleasures post. 
Anyway, there was a suggestion to write a letter to your ex's and I thought it sounded interesting. I wrote it in my journal months ago, but I thought I would share some of them here because they're kind of funny and a little bit of a timeline of my life. 
For those of you who will secretly or publicly think this is weird: I love my husband very much and do not think of my ex-boyfriends on a daily basis. Just when the idea is given to me in a things-to-blog-about-list. 

Dear A:
Remember how we "went out" in high school but we never kissed and I cried when I told you after 3 days of holding hands that it wasn't going to work? Remember how we stood by the French class portables and weren't too torn up about the whole thing anyhow? Just so we're clear- I never would have put out so it was probably for the best that you moved on.

Dear M:
First off, you should know that I am not the same 18-year-old you once dated. I got rid of that car, those pants, and my talent of communicating in the most vague and annoying way possible. I apologize for my hot and then cold antics and for being so incredibly jealous when you started moving on. I also apologize for being so irrationally angry at you when I found out you had been trying to break up with me long before I broke up with you. For the record, as my first kiss and my first boyfriend, you were fantastic. Thank you for being that experience for me- I needed it so that I could know that I was lovable.

Dear S:
I have to add you to this blog post but I really don't want to because I wrote you so many embarrassing letters in the past. Out of everyone I dated before my husband, I loved you the most. You, and Shawn Bailey from 6th grade. I loved you so much, I was CRAZY. Really...really crazy. I look back on our past much-too-young relationship and I just cringe at how obnoxious I was. I think about our break-up and how I used to call you and hang-up when you answered like some deranged stalker. You probably could have gotten a restraining order or something. My husband laughs at these stories because he can't believe that I was ever that big of an idiot. I pray that I will never have to talk to you face to face because even though I can laugh with my husband, I am still pretty embarrassed. The worst part is that I was your first girlfriend and you married the girl you dated after me. This not only makes me a crazy ex-girlfriend, but the one and ONLY crazy ex-girlfriend. I am your story at parties. I am the one your wife pities. You never think at the time about what memory you're becoming. Sigh. The older I get, though, the funnier it all becomes.

Dear C:
Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we left Alaska and lived by each other? Do you think we would have worked out? I don't . Sometimes, I don't even think you're a real person. You're just another northern light I danced with. Another moon-lit bike ride. Another secluded moment in the mountains. I was pretty confused when I got to Alaska, but you let me put myself together again without trying to help/fix me at all. You showed me that life and earth and our bodies are all incredibly simple- that's why you thought EVERYTHING was so wonderful. We never really connected super deeply, but I hold you dear anyway. Because you are a part of Alaska to me. And Alaska and I were in love.

Dear T:
I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I am sorry that you thought I moved so we could get to know each other and get married. I'm sorry I led you on like crazy even though I had zero intention of every having a serious future with you. I was incredibly desperate to be loved and you give me my fix. I used you and I feel sick about it. Whenever I think about the cruelest thing I have ever done, I think about that last email I wrote you. I promised myself I would never treat another man the way I treated you. Thank you for enduring me so I could beat you up enough to learn that I could be a horrible person- and then never be that person again. We were so awful at communicating that I wonder if you even know what I'm talking about.

Dear A:
You're not technically my ex, are you? We never seriously dated, did we? Then why do I feel like I should add you to this? Perhaps, because for 3 months after my mission, you were the best friend I could have asked for. And I know that life made it so we couldn't be friend any longer, but I want you to know that I say nothing but good things about you. You were one of the greatest friends I ever had. I always knew we weren't meant for each other- which is why I was THRILLED when you found a cute wife that loves you so much. You deserve to have all the love you put into this world come right back to you.

4 comments:

  1. Hey you. This is an awesome post. Carrie, you should write a book. You're an amazing writer.

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  2. i just scoured your pinterest boards until i found the list and saved it on my computer...so don't be surprised if i start blogging about some familiar topics...

    also, you're brave. if i wrote letters like this the whole world would know how very insane teenage brandilyn was and i'm not courageous enough to do that. haha! i love these though.

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  3. You should absolutely write a book. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I could never do one like it.

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I like to hear all of the beautiful things you have to say.