Hmm, what’s new? A new year, a new start to whatever lies ahead for myself and my two daughters. I am very excited to see that Alanis is starting to tour again. Alanis, I know how important it is to be at home with your children for that first year . There are so many milestones within that year that to miss them would be to miss out on so many cherished memories that will never come around again. I, like you Alanis, love and treasure every moment with my children.

I believe it is thee one gift that we, as women, have been given to experience conception, pregnancy, and birth. The moment you become a mother for the first time is so overwhelming. This amazing feeling of love, gratitude, spine tingling ”Oh my gosh, if I can do this, I can do ANYTHING adrenalin rush you get when you hold your baby for that very first time. A transition occurs within you at that very moment from daughter to mother and your spirit becomes so in tune with every single thing around you. You instantly become the light of this child’s life, their everything and more. A feeling we once felt toward one or both of our parents when we were young and believed that mom, dad, or both, were better than any other parents in the world. I am glad I have the opportunity to be a positive influence in my daughters lives, an example (okay, well maybe not always positive ~ maybe just plain childish or crazy or whatever happens in the moment kind of example) that they will remember forever. We give them a piece of us, a piece of who we are and what we wish we could change about ourselves when we were younger. I know and feel in my heart that you, Alanis, are probably a lot like myself along with the millions of mothers out there who care, share and love, not just with your children but with all of those around you who you are. I look forward with anticipation as to when you decide to tour in America again. With your ”poems, and lyrics, and arts” you have helped me through a transition that no mother or wife would ever want to go through ~ divorce. The broken pieces, hearts, shattered dreams of happily ever after disappearing right before your eyes, your children’s eyes. The questions of”what else could I have done to fix/change the situation. Sometimes whether we like it or not, people grow apart, couples and marriages fail. It’s a life lesson that I thought I would never have to go through but I have. I believe it has made me strong ~at least I’d like to think it has.

I love your music, your spirit, and your spunky side that I have viewed on youtube. Being a Gemini myself, I relate to the good and not so good of who we are. Of all of the musical artist’s in the world today, it is you that I turned to in my ”not so happy” transition from wife to single parent. Because of your lyrics and music, I have found this place of solace and understanding that I am not alone and I thank you for getting up every morning at 6:00 to practice the piano when you were young. Because of your efforts when you were young, you have touched my life in a way that you may or may never know. Your music has helped me through some pretty rough and lonely hours and for that I thank you. When you do finally come to Chicago again, I want to be there to meet you, to barbeque with you (okay, I can dream, can’t I?) and my daughters as we eat, drink and celebrate the joy? of being positive, influential mothers, daughters, sister, aunts, and grandmothers – oh, and I forgot to mention – close friends who are sisters in spirit! Until that day, I wish you and yours comfort and safety from this crazy world. Okay, now you can laugh, gag, roll on the floor, and even do your arm dance at me for all of this crazy nostalgia I just laid out there. I feel my evil twin coming out so it’s best to say I hope to see ya soon.

Canadian/American hugs and kisses…

Julie