Chance, Her Dog: 100 Letters from a Friend

By Darrin Atkins

Sarah is my best friend. I have never known a better person, a more wonderful woman, a more courageous individual. I am grateful that she gave me a chance to be a part of her life, a chance to know her, and I promise to be as loyal as her dog, Chance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 21, 2000
• ISBN: 9781469102436

Darrin Atkins

Darrin Atkins was raised in Stockton, California. He graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1993 and then studied in a Ph.D. Program in Social Psychology at the University of Nevada. He has worked at Premiere magazine, Nevada magazine, the Reno Gazette-Journal, Investor’s Business Daily and The Record. “You Always Lose” is his fourth book.

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Copyright © 2000 by as written to Darrin Atkins.

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Contents

PART ONE  

May 22, 1993  

June 27, 1993  

July 30, 1993  

August 3 , 1993  

August 16, 1993  

October 5, 1993  

October 16, 1993  

December 1, 1994 Postcard  

January 7, 1994  

February 5, 1994  

February 15, 1994  

March 7, 1994

August 5, 1994

September 14, 1994  

September 29, 1994 Postcard  

October 5, 1994 Postcard  

October 10, 1994 Postcard  

October 16, 1994 Postcard  

October 27, 1994 Postcard  

PART TWO  

December 2, 1994  

January 9, 1995  

January 23, 1995  

March 20, 1995  

April 17, 1995

July 10, 1995  

November 6, 1995  

November 18, 1995

December 2, 1995

February 18, 1996

April 18, 1996  

July 10, 1996 Postcard  

July 12, 1996 Postcard  

August 1, 1996

September 5, 1996 Postcard  

October 7, 1996  

November 14, 1996  

December 1, 1996

December 13, 1996  

December 18, 1996  

December 30, 1996  

January 9, 1997  

January 10, 1997 Postcard  

January 22, 1997  

February 10, 1997  

February 19, 1997  

March 14, 1997

March 31, 1997 Postcard  

April 16, 1997

June 8, 1997  

June 24, 1997  

July 10, 1997  

July 13, 1997 Postcard  

August 24, 1997 Postcard  

August 26, 1997 Postcard  

August 30, 1997 Postcard  

September 8, 1997 Postcard  

September 11, 1997 Postcard  

September 18, 1997 Postcard  

PART THREE  

October 1, 1997 Postcard  

December 8, 1997  

December 30, 1997  

January 14, 1998  

February 9, 1998

March 28, 1998  

April 5, 1998  

May 4, 1998  

May 10, 1998 Postcard  

May 25, 1998  

June 7, 1998

June 24, 1998  

July 8, 1998 Postcard  

August 30, 1998  

October 5, 1998  

November 3, 1998  

November 10, 1998  

November 13, 1998  

November 26, 1998

December 5, 1998  

December 13, 1998  

December 17, 1998  

December 22, 1998  

December 31, 1998  

February 4, 1999

February 20, 1999 Postcard  

February 25, 1999  

March 8, 1999  

April 18, 1999  

April 23, 1999 Postcard  

April 27, 1999  

June 1, 1999  

July 7, 1999  

July 17, 1999  

August 18, 1999  

September 20, 1999 Postcard  

September 23, 1999  

October 22, 1999  

November 14, 1999  

November 18, 1999 Postcard  

December 10, 1999  

December 22, 1999

December 27, 1999  

January 18, 2000 Postcard  

January 19 , 2000  

April 6, 2000

May 28, 2000  

I know the rent is in arrears.

The dog has not been fed in years.

It’s even worse than it appears.

But … it’s all right.

—The Grateful Dead

PART ONE

 

May 22, 1993—October 27, 1994

I first met Sarah in 1991 while we were students in an introductory psychology class at the University of the Pacific in Stock-ton, California. We became friends instantly and I adored her kindness and easygoing manner, her casual approach to life as compared to my stress and difficulty. I envied her rich and bountiful social life, something I was too shy to experience on my own. Sarah stood by my side and helped me finish an undergraduate research journal which some individuals were trying to stop.

I finished my degree in May of 1993 and moved to Reno for graduate school. Before I left I conveyed to her my desire for us to remain friends as long as we lived. One can only hope to be so lucky as to have such a loyal friend as Sarah, especially when so many others become traitors and betray you in an instant. This is our story so far. Her first one hundred letters.

May 22, 1993  

Congratulations Darrin! You survived UOP! I could never find the words to let you know how glad I am we met. You are a wonderful person and friend. Part of me wishes you’d stay to see me through my senior year, but I know you’re moving on to bigger and better things. I know you’ll do great things and make a difference. Even though you’re moving forward, I hope you’ll remember to look back and stay in touch. I’ll miss you, Darrin!

With love,

Sarah

June 27, 1993  

I just this very second (6/27 @ 3pm) walked in the door from Oregon. I headed straight to my mail box to find a wonderful letter form you. I’d been concerned about you since I couldn’t get a hold of you the day I left for home. Nicole told me you’d went apartment hunting in Reno. I sincerely hope things are going well for you. How does it feel to be out of Stockton?!? Personally, I’m pretty glad to be back. (We shall see how long this enthusiasm lasts!) Well, let’s see here … I was home for about 3 weeks and what can I say? It was … fun, boring, good, bad, relaxing, stressful, happy, and sad. What does such gumble amount to? Confusion!!! Let’s see if I can’t clarify some … The first week was fairly uneventful. I saw my friend from junior/senior high school days. She is getting married in September. This both blows me away and pisses me off. I can’t believe she’s making such a move at age 21. Has life even began?!? The words let go seem appropriate. My choices need not be the world’s, eh? I think I’ll take a brief break now Darrin, so I can unload my car (and organize my thoughts so this letter is slightly readable!). OK, I’m back again. Shit, is it ever hot here. I’m dying and it’s not even my first full day of summer weather! Anyways, the second week of my vacation my good friend Sabrina and her 4 1/2 yr. old daughter, Kylah, arrived from Arkansas. Things were going great despite a little shock in seeing Kylah. She’d gained 20 pounds in less than a year and weighed in at 70 pounds. This was not a nice surprise. I don’t want to bore you with the endless and unnecessary details so I’ll simply say that all were shocked. Trouble between me and Sabrina began to occur after about 5 days. First, let me retrace my steps and tell you that Sabrina & I have fought 3 times in our entire 7 year friendship. The discussion we had on this particular occasion, however, made up (and then some) for our minimal disagreements. We were at a friend’s (more hers than mine) for a bbq. Out of nowhere, Rose (the friend) and Sabrina start discussing how much I’d changed and what a snobby, judgmental bitch I was a few years back. I was amused, at first, because Rosie knows next to nothing about who I am, and Sabrina takes great pride in reducing my self-esteem to zero. They attacked me for 5 or 10 minutes without letting me respond whatsoever. Finally, in desperation, I began to cry and repeatedly said you’ve said enough! The reason I’m going through great lengths explaining this nightmare is in hope that you can empathize with my feelings of bitterness and anger towards Sabrina which persisted until I left today. We never discussed this event again during the entire week or so following. I pretty much feel saddened by the mean things she said, yet I realize a friend doesn’t strive to hurt and criticize in order to feel better and prosper from the other’s pain. I don’t know how we can be close again, but perhaps I am being overly dramatic. I sincerely value friends … true and honest friends with no other