Gratitude Girl

Dear Chris: You've been on my mind... I've listened to your beautiful songs all my life. I used your "Lady in Red" and "Spanish Train" to practice my own integrated language skills - listening & writing - when I was a teenager living in Iran, more than three decades ago. Then, as an English instructor in the United States, I used many of your songs in my classes, to teach my students the same skills. Thank you for your music, which I had the pleasure of hearing in person at the concerts you had in both Orange County and Los Angeles County, in California, in October 2015. I was thrilled to see you in person. Thank you for your Music in Lockdown Tutorials, the videos you posted online during the pandemic.  Thank you for your powerful lyrics... At this moment in time, these words come to mind:          But these are only boys, and I will never know,          How men can see the wisdom in a war... Thank you for being you. I'm so grateful for you. Love...

Dear Nowruz: You've been on my mind... I love you no matter how I spend the day of your arrival. You bring with you renewal every single year. You are a new day, a new beginning. With you, nature is reborn. Birds sing. Trees flourish with full leaves. Flowers bloom in green grass. I am thankful for all of these as they give me joy and hope -- hope that I can do better, that everything will be better.  I am grateful for you, Nowruz, and I celebrate you with all my heart.  Love... Noosha Ravaghi

Dear Parents: You've been on my mind... Thank you for bringing me into this world and giving me the opportunity to experience life.  Thank you for the genes you gave me and all the features you passed on to me. I appreciate everything you ever did for me and to me, whether at the moment it felt good or bad. If it felt good, thank you for that moment of joy. If it felt bad, thank you for allowing me to reflect and grow.  I'm grateful for you and for who I am because of you. Grateful... Noosha Ravaghi

Dear Body: You've been on my mind... You've been with me all my life. You've been with me through good times and bad. You've worked hard to adapt to all my circumstances, to all my choices and their outcomes, and you've managed to function well for the most part. I am so grateful for you as a whole... and for every part of you. Thank you. I appreciate you... all of you. I'm grateful for you and for all the work you have done for me. Love... Noosha Ravaghi

Dear Robert: You've been on my mind... Although I've never met you in person, I've always admired you. The first time I saw you was in the movie This Property Is Condemned. You were hard not to notice, both you and Natalie, two gorgeous actors. When I was twelve years old, I saw you again in Brubaker. I loved the movie and I loved you... and I never forgot your name. Thank you for being such a wonderful human being. Thank you for fighting the good fight. Thank you for everything you've done for the world and its people. Thank you for being you. I'm grateful.... Love... Noosha Ravaghi