MaryKathryn Dalton

Dear Joyce Maynard,

Ever wondered if you could go back in life and change the way things happened in your past, never knowing what mine would've been until September 6, 2007 came along while reading Usual Rules.

I've thought to myself what if my mother never had a stroke, what if she never had cancer or what if the doctors found the tumor in her brain and lazer it out, would she still have been here today. Every night I wondered or what if'd thinking if there was something more I could have done.

After reading your book, made me realize just because you're loved one's gone doesn't mean you cant that it's okay to cry and let things out and it's okay to talk about them or even share the memories that you've has with them. Like how Wendy had all those flashbacks about her mom good or bad, she realized if she could go back and change the times she was ever mean or mad a her mother she would. Wendy never knew that on September 11,2001 would be the last time she'd ever see her mother again.

For me however I wished September 6, 2007 never came because that was the last time I ever got to see my mother and still to this day I wished it was just a bad dream and I could wake up to her smile or even her touch. One thing about Wendy she never really expressed her feelings towards her mother's death like how I did I never wanted to believe that my mom was no longer here I just kept denying until one day it just hit me, and realized I would never get to see her face ever again but she'll always remain in my heart just like Wendy would have said about her mom. Also I know what she means by not expressing your feelings about that loved one, I think its better to not talk about it then talk about it all.

Wendy had inspired me by keeping her head up when times got and staying strong for her little brother even though she wasn't always their but one way or another she did. She also still went for her dream by doing what she loves to do.

I think that if you changed what was in you're your past how can you ever make it to your future. Also there's a reason why god didn't have my mother make maybe he was taking her out of her misery so she wouldn't have to be in pain all the time and struggling to breath.

Sincerely, MaryKathryn E. Dalton