I promise not all of the songs are country! There's a little bit of everything but for some reason these were the first.
"Letter to Me"- Brad Paisley
"Thanks for doing this again" His brother's wife says to him again "Martin is doing homework, if you could just proof read his essay for him, Jacob is already in bed. Jamie should be home in about 2 hours. There's money for pizza on the kitchen counter"
"Yeah, no worries Alice." He tells her "go."
"You're a lifesaver Gerald" the woman tells him as she waves goodbye. Gerald makes his way up to his nephew's room.
"Hey man"
"Hey"
"Your mom said you had an essay to write"
"It's so dumb. I have to write a letter to my 17 year old self" The sixth grader tells his uncle.
"That's a pretty cool assignment"
"Yeah, you say that cause you don't have to do it" he scoffs
"Well, I could. If I could write a letter to me and send it back to myself at 17 there'd be a lot I'd tell myself"
"Oh yeah? Well you should knock yourself out uncle Gerald."
Gerald laughs and reaches over to his nephew's binder, pulling out a few pieces of paper and taking a random pen out of a cup
"I will. Come on, lets do this" Gerald says. His nephew smiles and goes back to his own essay while Gerald starts writing.
Dear 17 year Old Gerald,
You might think this is crazy, but this letter is coming from future you. Don't believe me huh? Well, I can prove it. Look under your bed, there's a dirty magazine and a skool can filled with some green that no one else would know you have.
Now that we have that covered, lets move on. I know right about now, you're heartbroken. I know it's tough that you broke up with Ashley after 7 months. Man, I know you really liked that girl and it seems so unfair but that's the kind of pain will eventually subside. She wasn't the right one for you, I know, you're probably shaking your head saying I'm crazy because you really, really "love" her. You feel like there's a giant knife sticking out of your back and you believe that you won't ever get over her. But really, believe me man, you will get over her, you will move on and there will be others that you will come across and think you love. You will make it though this and you're still around to write this letter to teenage know-it-all Gerald.
You'll experience more than romantic loss. Unfortunately you lose friends too. Man, you know that stop at Tomilson & 8th? The one everyone likes to breeze by and barely tap their brakes? Always stop completely, don't just tap the brakes. I know that making curfew and driving fast seem like fun but don't do it. Life is precious and it's not worth losing it like your friend Dennis Hart lost his on that slippery Novemeber night. Just be safe. Drive carefully, wear your seatbelt, use your turn signal, don't drink and drive.
Oh another thing, don't be stupid forget to and fill up your gas tank before you go on dates especially when you land a date with Bridget.
Gerald stops writing and then strikes through the sentence and thinking back to the date with Bridget with a big goofy grin, "Actually that one turns out kinda cool."
"Did you say something uncle Gerald?"
"No" Gerald says with a smile as he returns to his letter.
I know your old man gets on your nerves a lot right now. He always seems to be nagging you and trying to teach you to be responsible. I know that you think your parents don't get you and that you already think you know everything but trust me. Every time you get in a fight with Dad, just assume you're wrong, cause you probably are, and he's right. Someday you'll realize this and you'll thank him for being so strict with you. It pays off, believe me.
Someone else that gets on your case all the time but you should really thank is Ms. Bringman. I know, you hate her class but she really sees the diamond underneath and is trying to polish you until you shine. Cause really, you are a bright kid Gerald. You have so much going for you, so much potential and talent. I know right now it's hard to see past the Friday night parties and popularity and living in the moment. I know looking good for the ladies and trying to maintain that awesome hair (you get voted Best Hair in the yearbook but really, years from now you'll realize how dumb you looked) seems like the most important things but you'll come to realize there's so much more.
I know you'll miss the huge bonfire rally cause you'll be stuck at home studying your ass off for that Algebra final. Mom and dad would kill you if you failed algebra. Don't worry, you squeak by and get a C but really, you could do better than that.
Point is, you have so much up ahead Gerald. You will make new friends. I know, there's some people that you think you'll be friends with forever but in time you'll see that time and distance changes that. You'll drift apart, have different interests and yeah, it's sad, but the ones that matter are still there for you, so don't worry. (You and your best friend still do your super secret handshake even though your wives mock you two and say you're childish, they're just hating on you happening dudes!)
Oh man, and you should see your wife! She's one foxy momma! I know right now you won't give her a second glance because she seems so uncool and like a total nerd but you'll eat those words up and be begging for her to give you a second of your time when you bump into her at your best friend's wedding. Seriously man, she's so beautiful. And she's an amazing mother! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, you have two kids! They are twins, and are 3 Kyo and Tyrone (he goes by Ty) and a little girl due in 2 months! We haven't decided on a name yet but I already know she's going to be beautiful, just like her mom.
Gerald, I know that it seems like High School is going to be the best years of your life. And you'll think that again in college when you are in that crazy frat and partying all the time, but really these are no where near the best years of your life. Just wait for when you see your wife walk down the aisle on your wedding day, wait for those newlywed years, wait for the moment you are told you're going to be a father, wait for the moment that you hear the twins' heartbeat (side note, you bawl like a baby, it's fine. Men cry too!). Wait for the moment when you finally meet your children. Wait for the moment when your wife is covered in baby puke, her hair sticking up haphazardly, both of you sleep deprived but you hear her sing the boys a lullaby and you fall in love all over again and even harder than ever. Wait for the moment when you start your dream job, when you buy your first home. Those are the best years of your life.
I guess I'll see you in the mirror when you're a grown man. So Gerald, don't worry too much about the little things man. Have a little faith and you'll see that everthing is going to turn out alright. Better than alright, your life is going to be so amazing.
Gerald beamed down at his letter. His nephew cleared his throat, Gerald looked back at the boy who was raising his eyebrow at him.
"Why are you smiling like a crazy person?"
"Martin, this was a good idea"
"What?"
"Writing this letter to me" Gerald says
"Man uncle Gerald, You used to be so cool. What happened?"
"Hey, I am so cool," Gerald says messing up his nephew's hair "but mostly, I'm happy."
