From Heather

johnny,

once upon a time when i was still an ugly duckling, you said something with unwavering certainty that has stuck with me ever since, and sometimes, is the only way i've been able to face certain days or myself.

you said, "not everything that's beautiful has to be perfect," when i handed you purple flowers that had been beaten down from a cross-state trip, hydrated by blood collection vials. you were just talking about plantlife but it hit direct-home with all that had been going on with me, at that time.

it applies now, too, with everything going on around you. you're beautiful, johnny. inside and outside and everything in between. the media is just the media, and they can represent someone in the best of light one second, and then the worst a heartbeat later.

if we were all perfect, what would life be like? dull, probably. life with you in it is so interesting, colorful, vivid. you shine in a way no other does, and you'll be forever cherished for that. quad or no quad (but while we're on it, your quad, WITH a sore back, was stellar), camille or no camille, medal or no medal. i've missed seeing you smile like you used to -- in that charismatic way that puts gold and silver to shame.

i hope you can smile like that again, soon. i hope that the end of this season will find you rest and cherished time with the ones you love, and have missed. i am sorry i won't get to see you on the COI tour this year, but fate took it away from the only city i could make it to. i have so much else to say, but this has gotten ridiculously long.

always flitting about,
heather rusin.