DEAR SISTERS,

WHAT CAN I TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY LEARNED THE HARD WAY, GROWING UP FEMALE IN THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF A CULTURE?

SEVERAL THINGS DO OCCUR —

1. EMBRACE “THE OTHER.” ART EXISTS NOT AS A COMFORTABLE AFFIRMATION, BUT AS A CHALLENGE, A PROVOCATION. TO DO MORE, DO BETTER. DO BETTER.

2. IF YOU DON’T FIND EVERYTHING FUNNY — AND I MEAN EVERYTHING — YOU’LL END UP IN CULTURAL DESPAIR.

3. THE ONLY QUALITY OF VALUE TO GUARD WITH YOUR LIFE: INTEGRITY. NEVER LIE TO YOURSELF. IF YOU DO, IT’S A LIVING DEATH. (I.E., SEE OUR NEW PRESIDENT.)

4. RELATED TO #5: ONLY PEOPLE WITH SENSE OF HUMOR SURVIVE AND CREATE GREAT WORK. CULTIVATE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR.

5. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, DOODLE TO RELIEVE STRESS + SADNESS.

6. LISTEN TO EVERYONE. YOU CAN REJECT WHAT IS SAID, BUT REFUSING TO HEAR IS THE HEIGHT OF NARCISSISM.

MUCH LOVE + COURAGE TO YOU —

PHYLLIS

P.S. — OH — AND COLLEGE-RULED NOTEBOOKS ARE THE BEST.

HUMILITY — HONOR — INTEGRITY