Every once in a while I get a letter that saves me from having to write a blog. This is one of them!

Christopher,

I know you hear this all the time and I will try to curb my gushing but I have to at least tell you what a huge blessing you are to me. My husband went up to Borders on Friday to use a 25% coupon before it expired and I was about ready to leave without using it (thus saving 100%!) but my husband came over to where I was paging through an ancient History book (one of my passions) and showed me your book.

It was a "meant to be" moment and the history book was immediately replaced and we hustled out of there with your book so that I could go home and start my first skim through it. It was wonderful!

So I read it through a second time, this time answering the questions and highlighting the parts that are so "ME". Like how to tell when your hair is too long. EVERY ONE OF THEM IS ME!

Actually, five years ago I had cancer (doesn't everyone! :o) and lost my hair. So I went from bald to hair-to-my-waist in five years. It was glorious and wonderful and a goal I'd wanted to achieve all my life and then just a pain because it was way too time consuming for such minimal results. I have a small head (I've known this all my life - my term for it is pointy head - but when I got my chemo wig, the lady who adjusted it for me said "you have a little head. It's a tiny little thing!" Naturally it confirmed what I'd been saying all along and traumatized me at the same time.) But moving right along - said tiny little head with waist length hair that just hangs there makes a feature that much more ...pointy! Besides, it really didn't suit me except in my mind.

So, and here your book was right on the money again!, I went to have it cut. Styled, if you will! And walked away so imperceptibly changed that no one at work even noticed. I had to tell my best friend! I had about 5 inches cut off, it's now to my bra strap, but the style is about the same. How lame is that?!

So reading your book and sticking bright stickies at all the best pages was a wonderful adventure this weekend. I actually closed it on Sunday evening, after a third time through, with just one major sensation in my heart: Hope. And for that I thank you. Looking at some of the pictures on your web page I can see the same look in the faces of some of the people. A sense of relief that they can talk to someone who won't criticize them or judge them. Someone who only wants the very best for them.

And who couldn't love someone who sees the best in you? Sees beauty where you only see tiredness, resignation, sadness, or fear?

Thank you, Christopher. Thank you.

Oh thank YOU. Helen.