Update: Handle With Care. Thank You.

The past couple days have been beyond our wildest dreams, but today was a fairytale. I’m not sure I can fully capture what we just experienced, but I’ll do my best.

…ready for it?

This afternoon, we received two packages in the daily mail. One a bundle of letters from postal workers around the country.The other box was oversized and covered in “Please Handle With Care. Thank You.” stickers.

I’ll be honest. We didn’t think too much about it. There have been so many letters this week that the most unlikely scenario didn’t even occur to us.

I cut the box open while we sorted through some other mail. And, then...

Em pulled back the packing materials to reveal a bubble wrapped gift.

On it, we saw a tag that simply said, “To Em. From Tay.” Talk about breathless.

I’ll admit. Our brains broke for a minute. We put the gift and the packaging back in the box. And, waited an hour.

No joke. Sometimes, you need to calm down.

... ... ...

After a deep breath, we all sat down on the living room floor and opened the box.

Let’s pause for a second here…

One thing Em has said over and over this week is “this isn’t a girl writes a letter story, it’s an anyone can write a letter story.”

And, she’s right. We can each take a small step to do something with a big impact.

But, she’s also wrong … when the woman writing the letter is Taylor Swift.

The first thing that hit us as Em began to unwrap the package was the smell of “what happiness smells like,” according to Emerson.

And, the smell of happiness fills the room, my friends, and lingers for hours.

Inside the package was a simple envelope...

Hand painted. With gems. A wax seal - TAS. And, “Glitter glued with TSwift’s personal glitter glue,” according to Emerson.

Then, came the letter. And, oh dear lord, this letter.

All four of us - including Finn (age 7) - sat quietly and hung on every word as Emerson read the letter aloud.

Most of the letter is personal and between Em & Taylor. But a couple of special details just for you…

She wrote, “Dearest Emerson…”

She was touched, honored, happy... to hear about Emerson mentioning her & her music in her letters. But, she found it more important that she “writes letters to people who don’t expect a thank you.”

(#WeSeeYou @USPS!)

She saw in Emerson’s story “an innate sense of empathy, a curiosity about the feelings of strangers, and the drive to try to brighten someone’s day.”

She talked about her passion for handwriting letters and noted, “the bag I sent along with this letter contains one of my favorite letter writing tools — wax seals to seal envelopes.”

She continued, “I’m sorry they look messy. I couldn’t get new ones in time so I sent you mine.”

Side note: Taylor took a moment to recommend that Emerson have a parent help her with the wax. She thinks of everything.

When I say she thought of everything - I mean she thought of everything.

“I hope you’re feeling good during isolation and not too lonely…”

“Make sure to find time to create and daydream…”

“And remember, no one expects you to be perfect...you’ve already set a really cool example and I’m proud of you. :)”

She finished with a greeting from her pets and a closing like so many of Emerson’s own letters.

“...a big hug from me! Love, your pen pal, Taylor??”

We’re a puddle of tears over here.

And, it has nothing to do with Taylor’s celebrity.

It has everything to do with her humanity.

Inexplicably, she sees Em. She sees her beauty. She sees her heart. She sees the real her.

She included a couple of shirts on the box - in two different sizes to be certain that the fit was right.

Em found the shirts that worked for her, and...

...immediately delivered the other set to her best friend, Naomi. She liked Taylor’s perfume, too.

Em wrote a note to Naomi with the shirts explaining what happened. “I didn’t think Taylor could get any better. I love her soooo much. But, don’t worry, I love you more.”

Moral of the story - just like before -

It’s the simple things. The basics. The humanity. Connection.

And, jokes. Taylor added a doozy she made up herself for our joke collection. That one will stay between Taylor and Em.

***

Please, please, please go tell someone you love them. Absolutely incredible things can happen if you do.

And, Taylor,

Forever & Always - #WeSeeYou and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you - #SincerelyEmerson & the Webers.