DEAR SEAN:
My mom shared what you wrote about angels. I wish I could see one sometime so I knew they were real, but I really don’t know if they are.
Thank you,
TWELVE-IN-LOUISIANA
DEAR LOUISIANA:
Have you ever seen radio waves? Go ahead, turn on a car stereo. Hear that noise? Where is this sound coming from? The answer is very high frequency radio waves which are invisible. But, hey, you’re listening to them. So they must be real.
These waves can travel up to 62 miles across land or sea, unseen by the human eye, imperceptible to human ears, they are devoid of solid matter, but quite real. Radio waves have assisted EMTs in saving lives, aided policemen when finding bad guys, they have helped win wars, and made modern pop-country into the most annoying art form known to mankind.
What about gravity? Can you see THAT? Let me answer for you. No. You can’t. But gravity must exist because if it didn’t you’d be floating somewhere near the asteroid belt of Jupiter and Mars.
Can you see oxygen? Nope. But it’s all around you. And without trusty old O2 you would be on the floor right now, flopping like a suffocating goldfish in a sandbox. Oxygen is real because, obviously, here you are, alive and everything, listening to VHF radio waves.
Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not real. The most wonderful things in the whole wide world are invisible.
Love is one of these things.
DEAR SEAN:
I go to school on computer now and we live on a farm, and with the virus out now, I have a lot to help with my dad every day and with my brother. But I’ve been writing letters in cursive so I can get better at writing. Do you think I’m good?
Thanks,
EIGHT-IN-ALABAMA
DEAR ALABAMA:
Thanks for your letter. You are awesome! I hope you don’t mind me typing my response to you because my cursive is horrible. In fact, at this stage of life my handwriting is a mutant combination of print and squiggles. When I type I don’t mak neerly az minny mEEstakes.
DEAR SEAN:
I was going to ask you how long it took to grow your beard because I want one. My dad says we can’t grow hair on us because he’s Native American. But my mom comes from Germans and her brothers have beard hair, you think can I grow hair like you?
Thank you,
TEN-IN-WICHITA
DEAR WICHITA:
Your letter is, by far, the most interesting letter I’ve ever received in my whole life. In fact, it’s taken me weeks to get in touch with experts on this subject.
As for my personal beard, I will tell you upfront, my facial hair comes from my German descent. My father’s parents were second generation Americans. Meaning, they spoke Deutsch in their childhood homes and occasionally sprouted facial hair while eating Leberwurst for breakfast.
But getting back to your question.
I contacted a friend in New Mexico who is Native American and he says this about his facial hair:
“Ha! Tell your friend that I’ve tried my entire life just to grow a mustache, but I don’t get anything, not even peach fuzz. My father was the same way. My sister doesn’t even shave her legs if that tells you anything.”
I can tell you this, however. If you have ANY German ancestry, like I do, you might have to employ someone full-time to shave your back hair with a weed eater.
DEAR SEAN:
When did you start learning guitar? The G chord is hard for my fingers cause my pinky won’t do it.
Bye,
JASON-IN-GEORGIA
DEAR GEORGIA:
I got my first guitar when I was 3 years old. It was a Stella model guitar, which I don’t think they even make anymore. It was a glorified toy. The only song I could play was the drum solo to “Wipeout” using my bare hands to bang on the wood.
I eventually started playing in earnest when I was 9 with my uncle’s help. My first song was “Waltz Across Texas” which is in the key of G. My pinky has never worked right since.
Keep practicing, and one day, who knows, maybe you’ll accidentally grow a beard.
DEAR SEAN:
My daughter, Erin, sent you a picture in the mail. Did you get it? It would mean so much to us if you could give her a shout out. We lost my dad this year, and everything has been hard on her.
Grateful,
MOM-IN-WEST-VIRGINIA
DEAR WEST-VIRGINIA:
I actually opened your letter while I was having a conversation with our mail carrier. I thought the drawing was so pretty that I showed it to the mail lady, and here was her verbatim quote: “Wow, good artist.”
It’s important to note that mail carriers are government employees. Which means that, in a way, this mail lady was complimenting you, Erin, on behalf of the U.S. Government.
Thank you for the picture, please send more. I have free space on my fridge.
DEAR SEAN:
I don’t have friends since the pandemic happened and am sad about not being in school with them any more.
Sincerely,
SARAH-IN-ALABAMA
DEAR ALABAMA:
No friends? And what am I? Yesterday’s turkey gizzard? I’m writing to you because we are friends. I want everyone in the whole world to know that you’re my friend.
So everyone listen up:
SARAH IS MY FRIEND!
And as your esteemed friend, I feel it’s necessary to tell you that this year has been the pits for us all. So it’s absolutely okay to be sad about it.
But.
If you can hold on a little while longer, when this whole pandemic thing slows down, you and I will meet in person someday, and I promise I’ll give you a great big hug to PROVE that you have more friends than you ever realized.
Until that day, I’m just going to think of you as my invisible pal. Because, as I said, the most beautiful things in life are invisible.
35 comments
Kathleen Jun Magyar - November 24, 2020 6:17 am
What a sweet column.
Deb Lockard - November 24, 2020 7:08 am
Nice one Sean!
Steve Winfield (Lifer) - November 24, 2020 7:17 am
Don’t you know it!
Love, angels, radio waves, & gravity.
Where’d we be without any of them?
Oh yeah. The internet. Be hard to connect with you without that.
Love you buddy. Hug Jamie & the dog’s
Cathy Lemlyn - November 24, 2020 11:54 am
I needed this today. I’m feeling a little like Sarah. I’m sad and missing friends and family. This pandemic has definitely been the pits for all of us. Your letters are a breath of fresh air ( even through a mask). Thank you.
Deborah L Blount - November 24, 2020 12:10 pm
Dear Sean,
I truly enjoy reading your daily posts. They are one of the most beautiful parts of my day. Seeing the world through your eyes makes me realize there are angels among us.
61 year old granny from Tennessee
Connie - November 24, 2020 12:13 pm
I just love you. That’s all. Happy Thanksgiving. Great big hugs to you and Jamie.
Ann - November 24, 2020 12:14 pm
I love the “ change up” column…..you’ve done it again covering every emotion😩😱🤣🥰
Thank you…..again!
Becca - November 24, 2020 12:42 pm
Excellent answers – each and every one! YOU and Jamie are Angels and I thank God for your column!
Kathy Dowdy - November 24, 2020 1:23 pm
Great! Sean, these letters & your responses are priceless!! Thanks for being you!
Jan - November 24, 2020 1:26 pm
Love your ability to see good everywhere and in everyone. You are a true friend to all you encounter whether it is in person or through your special words. Thank you!
Erika Putnam,DC - November 24, 2020 1:26 pm
Thanks for making us not feel invisible! The best!
Mim E. - November 24, 2020 1:45 pm
Your kind exchange with Sarah-in-Alabama brought tears to my eyes.
R H EUBANKS - November 24, 2020 1:51 pm
You are nuts in a really cool way. Ronbo
Betty F. - November 24, 2020 1:56 pm
Love when you respond to some of the probably thousands of letters and emails you get. Always warms my heart.
I firmly believe there are angels on earth- and you and Jamie are two shining examples.
Jenny Young - November 24, 2020 2:03 pm
My favorite authors wrote letters to children. CS Lewis for one & now Sean Dietrich, another great one!
Curtis Lee Zeitelhack - November 24, 2020 2:08 pm
Except for the 62 miles as the limit of VHF transmissions, I am with you all the way, Sean.
Kate - November 24, 2020 2:18 pm
You are one of the most beautiful and decent humans I’ve come across. Thank you for the beauty you write into existence and the decency shown to your fellow strugglers.
Joretta Parker - November 24, 2020 2:26 pm
Sean, I love these notes to the kids. You have made their day. It’s something they will remember forever. Congrats on the commercials. Hope to see you in person one day if you ever get back to Enterprise, AL. I didn’t know about your last appearance here, so I missed out. I will be so glad when all this mess is over. I’m high risk because of my age and ailments but I keep busy painting and playing Scrabble and Yahtzee with my best friend. We are keeping each other sane.
Robert M Brenner - November 24, 2020 2:29 pm
What a gift you have! You can bring “Happy Tears” to adults and “Big Smiles” to children! You are a special person, maybe an Angel in disguise, just maybe 😇
Jo Downs - November 24, 2020 2:30 pm
This column arrived at the perfect time. When so many of us are a little more stressed than normal. Missing human contact that is as simple as a hug. We adults struggle to understand this pandemic at times, so imagine how all these kids must be feeling. Thank you Sean for sharing your mailbag with us readers.
Winifred Brown - November 24, 2020 2:39 pm
The children who write to you need you and you come through with flying colors. I love you for that.
Susan Wold - November 24, 2020 3:05 pm
Beautiful the way you brought that full circle and how you care for people. I’m so much better with dogs then people, I admire people who can open their hearts like you.
Beryl - November 24, 2020 3:09 pm
Your take…adamantine!
Sydney - November 24, 2020 3:32 pm
I am a new reader: just discovered you in the past week. You are…well, I am uncharacteristically speechless. Thank you, just thank you for your words and your heart.
Char Stidd - November 24, 2020 3:55 pm
May I call you friend? When I read your words it feels like a conversation with a friend where I do the listening while you talk. I have been in conversations where I had to raise my hand to talk because one friend never stops talking unless I do raise my hand to get a word in edgewise. With you, I really listen…with spirit, mind and heart and then sometimes I have a conversation with myself about what you wrote.
As you said the most beautiful things are invisible, however we can “see” the love you have for your fellowmen, of all ages, in your writings and it is a beautiful thing.
You are a treasure! 💞 Char
Jana Frost - November 24, 2020 3:57 pm
I really liked this one! SO true and loved your response to the kids.
Martha Black - November 24, 2020 4:24 pm
Treat everyone as a friend, seen or unseen and you may be surprised just how many you actually have or gain. Just like angels are all around, they just might not look like what you have imagined. Look every one you meet directly in the eyes & be as kind as you can be. You never know who you jyst might meet. Strangers are only those you have not met yet………..
Hebrews 13:2-4
King James Version
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Linda Moon - November 24, 2020 5:15 pm
Kids still say the darndest things. The Friedman Twins themselves couldn’t have replied to them better than you did, Sean. If you had learned to type from my typing teacher, you wouldn’t have made so minny mEEstakes. My firstborn child is named for hur…..(correction: her). Thank you for sharing letters from all your invisible pals!
MAM - November 24, 2020 7:15 pm
God, too, is invisible. But we can see him in everything and everyone around us. People need to return to that state-of-mind. I pray for it. And on a side note, neat way to tie up everything at the end. I so admire your writing skills!
Dee Thompson - November 25, 2020 4:30 am
I waited until just now to read this one and I’m glad I did. It’s one of your best. Your words about real things being invisible echoes my personal philosophy of life. One of the characters in my new novel says “Love is the only thing I know of that must be given away in order to be received, which makes it the most powerful magic of all.” If you would shoot me your address in an email I would like to send you a copy of my book, Heart of My Own Heart.
David Doom - November 25, 2020 4:41 am
A friend had a son who was a dare devil from the time he could crawl. He would climb trees, house downspouts, rock walls, etc. When asked if she worried about him falling and getting hurt, she replied that he has never fallen unless what he was climbing on broke, but he does have two guardian angels on full time disability.
Nancy M - November 25, 2020 5:01 am
I love when you write to children, and by the way, to grownups too, through your letters to children.
Diann - November 25, 2020 6:03 pm
I love that you have a heart for kids.They need adults to help them get through this, to help them understand all will be alright, but most of all to show them unconditional love because some of their behavior isn’t so good right now. They are coping as best they can and they need to know we are on their side and not to lose their sense of humor. Great post
Dru Brown - November 26, 2020 9:07 am
Well done, Sean! Happy Thanksgiving!
Tammy S. - November 26, 2020 2:47 pm
Absolutely love this one!! Thanks for letting us listen in on your conversations with the kids. It’s the best!! Happy Thanksgiving, Sean & Jamie! 🍂🍁🐿