Mr. Rigney or Mr. Jordan,

I admit to being something hesitant about who to adress, but I just wanted to say thank you.

The past five and change months were and remain one of the most difficult and worst periods in my life. Originally, I though I was simply stalling to reach the end of it, this horrible trial I thought I was being put through hoping to find such a beautiful light at the end, and you gave me a way to just essentially jump time making the passing go by much more quickly. When I was up at night having seemingly exhausted all other forms of distraction, I was able to lose myself in a way that I have not in such a long time. When waiting developed into something more permanent, when the end came abruptly and relentlessly, when waiting and pushing reality aside was no longer a viable or healthy option, when I had to face it head on, you provided me a way to slowly bring myself out of the seemingly endless supply of anger, hatred, and hurt I had created to slowly recognize and become aware that there is still beauty in simply things and in the world. slowly bringing me out. Or when letting the hurt envelope me in hope that it would simply burn itself out, you helped me back into myself when I was so lost afterwards. To feel emotions again other than negative ones.

You also simply provided me a way with talking to one of my best friends about something other than what I was going though. Making me feel normal again. Not that his patience ever waned, but it felt good to be able to relate on a normal level again, and just laugh or wonder over something pleasant rather than painful.

Now I have finished the last thing you fully completed. I feel sad. A sort of giving tree moment. I know you will never read this, or probably, but I had to say thank you. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for reminding me who I am and what I am meant to do. Thank you simply for providing joy as well as support when I was relatively ok and did not turn to you of of necessity as I so often did. As your successor has also said, thank you for your last gift. I will not be angry at the differences, or pick on what I find lacking, wonder what it could have been, or mourn the loss of a singular and missed opportunity because everything from this point on is a gift, and I am deeply grateful just for it being offered so freely and from what I understand so necessarily on your part. It speaks to the way you chose to relate to your craft and those that loved what you made in a way I would strive to emulate.

Thank you, Mr. Rigney.

I will pay these gifts forwards.

Cory Line,
10 January 2011