Dear Bennett,
Sometimes our house is a little crazy. You’ll know what I mean soon enough.
Tonight we have a band spending the night. Your dad and I like caring for these musical strangers because once upon a time your Uncle Joey was a musical stranger, too. (Obviously he wasn’t a stranger to us, but he was to somebody.) You’ll hear us using this strange word, “RYFO.” RYFO helps us to have the chance to be nice to these people.
Now, you can’t think too hard about their appearances. Sometimes they’ll show up with pink hair, sometimes black hair, sometimes mohawks and sometimes bald heads. For most of them, their favorite color to wear is black. And while your dad and I are perfectly happy for you to color in his tattoos, you’ll need to ask before you color in our musical strangers’ tattoos.
Sometimes they’ll want to play with you and sometimes they’ll just want to rest. You see, they usually arrive in the middle of the night after having just worked so hard at their music, entertaining lots of people. So we’ll have to be careful to let them sleep. And you won’t believe how late they get up in the morning! You and I will certainly be up for a while before any of our guests awake, so we’ll have to speak in whispers. Maybe you can help me in the kitchen so that we can have breakfast ready for them!
Sometimes it’s hard knowing when to be hospitable and when to say, “No.” Sometimes it’s hard knowing when to trust strangers and when to be cautious. Not every stranger will be friendly, Bennett. And I’ll teach you about that, too. But one thing is for certain: There’s this new drug called “bath salts.” No, it’s not medicine and, no, it’s not anything we’ll ever have at your bath times. It’s something else. And when strangers take it, they can go quite crazy. This isn’t the same kind of crazy as our house being crazy or Esther acting crazy after she’s had a bath. This kind of crazy is dangerous. So listen to me: stay away from strangers who have a hungry look in their eye! Not only stay away, but RUN. We’ll practice this so that you can be sure to know what I’m talking about.
With a growing love,
Your Mom
He will learn all about “I was a stranger and you took me in” from you guys.
Mwah
Bath salts? Never heard of these. By the time he gets in his teens, they will have all sorts of different new drugs. I’m sure that he will heed your advice and instruction.
Yeah, it’s that drugs that make people eat people (and animals). Terrifying!
Ok, I admit it… I didn’t see the ‘bath salts’ reference coming š
You will be an awesome mom…
Ok. Am I the only one incredibly disturbed by the cannibalistic trend?
No, you are not the only one concerned. In my day I have heard a lot about about different drugs destroying and hurting people. PCP, LSD, and so on.. But cannibalism..PLEASE!
RE: The letter, I love all the letters that you write to him. Time is getting closer..
I had never heard of bath salts, or the fact that it is a drug that causes cannibalism. Disturbing (editing the language here), ummmm, YES!!!! I learned something new Suzy; that’s what I love about your blog. I either learn something new or get a reminder of some sort.
It can cause psychotic episodes/hallucinations of all different types, not just cannibilistic urges. The person who ‘ate’ someone’s face in Florida was a user.
You are correct.
I love this letter! I wonder why! Haha. But the bath salts part definitely made me laugh!