Here are a few words to the people who make all this possible, and to the people who make ME possible, as well.

To the Jaded Ladies of NJEF:

Olivia - What's up, fucker? Heard you got a pepper bar... You are my best friend in this world, and even though we have our moments...okay, so we don't have moments...we have WEEKS...lol, even though we have those weeks, we have remained tight for all these years. You've heard it all before, but I have to tell you that I respect and love you so much. You are one feisty little woman, and you don't take shit from no one...and I need to do more of that in my own life. So, if you're willing to give lessons, I'm willing to pay monthly...lmao! Sisters Para Siempre! Te Quiero Mucho, Baby!

Tabz: Oh, how I miss you. You never seem to be around anymore, and I just don't know what to do with myself! I've tried needlework, but that just doesn't fulfill me the way you do. Maybe someday we WILL meet, and when we do whatever place we meet up in better watch the hell out! Especially if Liv and D are there...CRAAAAAZY! I send all my love to you, the kids, and Orlando. You ARE married to him right? Email my ass and let me know you're still alive...please?

Lux: I am so proud of you for being at school and having your future figured out with going back to England and all that...you're a lot further ahead in life, and I'm older than you are. I wish you the absolute best, and even though I know Liv's going to miss the hell out of you in Detroit (WHAT!?!?) I think what you're doing is pretty groovy! So have a hell of a time, and teach those Brits that us Americans aren't all that bad, okay? It is the British who hate Americans, isn't it? Or is that the French? I can never get that straight...lmao!

Alli: We don't ever talk anymore, and I really feel bad about that...but whatever is going on in your life right now I hope that it's all the best...and I also hope that if you ever feel the need to talk you'll look me up...you know where to find me!

Mels: You have taught me that it's a good thing to follow your dreams. I am so proud of you getting into Berklee, and I know that you're going to have the time of your life there. Don't let men...ahem...excuse me...BOYS, bother you either...just know that they are supremely inferior creatures sent here to destroy us. You, however have the power to defeat them...they're called ovaries...be glad you have them and use them well, grasshopper. Love you girl! Be good.

Julie-Weiner: I don't know where you disappear to man, you must have a cave somewhere that you crawl into for long periods of time. But while you're in your cave I want you to know that you ARE loved and missed. And we would like nothing more than for you to pop that pretty little head of yours out more often and give us a big fat hello...Come miff Justin with me, Weiner...I miss you.

Liz: Thank you for opening my eyes to a whole new world...*Puts on her Aladdin hat* You are such a good friend...*hugs*

"Jigga": You see everything, you see every part, you see all my light...and you love my dark. You dig everything, of which I'm ashamed, There's not anything to which you can't relate...and you're still here...

Matthew: *Bows humbly* I'm not worthy...I'm not worthy...okay...I'll stop now. You are my favorite "magician", and one hell of an artist...thank you for your words.

Michaela Elizabeth: I laugh as I write that, because it is the name that you chose for yourself. And that's so much like you...so strong and independent...so not a baby anymore that it frightens me and thrills me all at once. I adore you completely...with every pore of my being. I look into your pretty blue eyes and I see all the hope and energy that I once possessed...I can only sit back and continue to watch you grow and learn and marvel at how new and wonderful the world looks through your eyes...you are the part of me that will forever be missing in some cruel way...Close enough to touch...and yet too far away to hold for long. I can only hope that you never resent me for the choices I made when it came to you...and that you realize just how much I love you. You will ALWAYS be "Mommy's Little Angel". Fly high, little angel...I'll be watching from afar.

Momma: I see you now, a shell of the woman you once were and I mourn you although you're not really gone. I pray for you every night...and I know that someday you will be whole and strong again. Keep your head up, and your eyes on Jesus...And never forget to "Let the Sunshine In." I love you, Mommy...So very much.

Daddy: What can I say? I'm more like you than I will EVER want to admit. But you are still the greatest man I will ever have the privilege of knowing...You are strength, and stability, and family, and HOME to me...Thank you for being those things. Thank you for molding me as best you could. Thank you for being my "Papa Bear." That's all I will ever ask of you...

To the rest of you, and you know who you are...I love you all dearly. It would take me a million and six years to name all of you, and if I named one of you then the rest would get jealous, so I will just say collectively to all my friends that I love you, and that you are the greatest. Be good to yourselves, I wish you happiness, and peace, and in the words of Tony Lucca "Someone to love you forever and ever and never as for more than the same in return."

JC, Lance, Chris, Joey...and yeah...you too, Justin...(I kid!) If it wasn't for you and your beautiful music...and your beautiful souls...and those beautiful, beautiful bod...I mean hearts! I wouldn't be here right now. No...I don't just mean NJEF. I mean HERE. Period. You can take that however you want to, and you'll probably end up being right. At some point in their lives, everyone needs something to cling to...and when all was lost...I clung to you. And unwillingly you held me up, and you taught me the meaning of friendship, joy, laughter, and yes...even some tears. You gave me the greatest gifts that anyone could have ever given me shy of my daughter...you gave me the other six girls that run this site with me. And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you...words cannot express how in debt to you I am for that.

I feel compelled to say something directly to you, Justin...and I know that you may never see it...but it needs to be said. Like you, I bonded with someone who is like a sibling to me...and when I think of that bond...I can never imagine jeopardizing it for ANYTHING on this earth. Fortune...Fame...Fuck it all, man...if it meant losing my "sister"...it's not worth it. If you do read this someday...I just want you to dwell on those words for a while. I doubt they will change anything...but god, Justin...I think you'll understand.

To the rest of you...I thank you most of all for remaining unchanged. True, and loyal, and...here's that word again...beautiful. I love you all...you are my muses...God Bless.

Peace,

Becca