Page 35 of The Christmas Letters
Chapter Eleven
Tess
Dear Max,
I love that you watch romantic comedies with your grandma. I love even more that you admitted it.
I agree that olives are the world’s worst food. I have a friend who eats them like they are grapes, by the handful. It grosses me out just thinking about it. Her husband feels the same way and so they are always ordering olives on their pizza, which is ridiculous and disgusting.
I would love to learn more about your job. Mostly because you sound like you really love it. And that intrigues me. It feels like people are too frequently motivated by having a job that’s going to pay them a salary they love rather than having a job that makes them happy. I mean, if you can have both, I guess that’s the best of both worlds, but happiness is more important, I think. Lots of money in a life that feels empty hardly seems worth it. But that’s just me.
Can you tell me more about what you do?
You asked about the college degree I’m not using. I graduated with a degree in art history. Art is fine. I like art. But I don’t really have a passion for it. And the degree didn’t really prepare me to do anything practical. I picked it because my mother thought it would be a good idea. In her mind, being a “supportive wife” was all I needed to aspire to. And an art history degree was a perfectly respectable way to accomplish that.
I’m going back to school in January. To study business and entrepreneurial leadership. I have an idea, a business I’d like to open someday, so I’m hoping this degree will help me figure out how to make it happen. I haven’t told anyone about it yet. It still feels too new. Too scary. But maybe someday.
Sincerely, Your Christmas Pen Pal
Dear Pen Pal,
I’d love to hear about your business idea. I promise I’ll be supportive. And not tell you your only role in life is to be a “supportive wife.” I mean, I hope to be a supportive husband someday. And I hope I have a supportive wife. But that isn’t all I want her to be. It’s about teamwork. And supporting each other’s goals and dreams and aspirations.
Does it make me too much of an idealist to believe a relationship like that is possible? I hope not.
Either way, your idea is safe with me.
A few more questions for you:
Favorite childhood game?
Favorite food?
Favorite beverage?
Last book you read that you couldn’t put down? Or in your case, last book you listened to?
I love to read, but I’m still partial to the feel of a book in my actual hands. I might, with a little convincing, be willing to give an audiobook a try. Though if I end up liking an audiobook, I might have to buy the book just to have it on my shelf. My grandma says this is weird. That I’ll check a book out from the library and then, if I like it, buy it for my own library. I just know that eventually I’ll read it again and then I’ll be happy to have it on my shelf. I don’t do it with ALL books, just the ones I love. What about you?
-Max
PS. Olives on pizza are the WORST.
Dear Max,
I don’t think you sound like an idealist. I think the kind of relationship you described sounds amazing. And I know it’s possible because my best friend has this kind of relationship with her husband. They are so supportive, and they really see one other, you know? They set the bar pretty high as far as relationships go, but I haven’t given up hope yet. Your letter actually gives me MORE hope. That there are men out there who get it. Who are looking for what I’m looking for.
My business. Okay. I’ll tell you. But I just want you to know how terrified it makes me to think about saying these things out loud.
Here goes: I want to run my own yoga studio. I’m not an instructor, but I’m interested in the business side of it. I want to create something that’s more than a studio. More like a retreat center. A place where people can go to relax and feel peace and find their center. But I don’t want it to be some posh, expensive place that charges five bucks for a glass of cucumber water. I want it to be accessible. The people who probably need to de-stress the most are the people who are living on a budget. I want them to be able to come and do yoga and relax and get a massage without it breaking the bank. I’m still working out how I can make it happen. But I have ideas. Ideas of holding retreats that are high-dollar, targeting them toward women who have the income to indulge, but then using those profits to provide services that are more budget-friendly, or even free.
Does that sound crazy? I hope it doesn’t sound crazy. I don’t know anything about the actual business of running a business, so that’s what my classes will focus on in January. I’ve also got a job lined up, doing administrative work at a yoga studio to help me learn the industry. It pays basically nothing, and it doesn’t start until after the first of the year, which means I have a lot of time on my hands right now. But it will work well with my school schedule, and the owner of the studio is fantastic, so I’m excited to work with her.
In the meantime, I’m dreaming and planning, which is fun. Also terrifying. Almost as terrifying as olives on pizza. I’m glad we agree on that.
Favorite childhood game: Tetris. If you think I’m good at cornhole, you should see me play Tetris.
Favorite food: Sweet potato pie. NOT pumpkin pie. It’s not the same thing and don’t you dare suggest it is.
