I Swear You Will Be Fine

Dear Josh,

Thank you for your help these past two days! Thanks to you and your clever tech skills, I was able to do the bulk of my analyses for my thesis on your computer. To jog your memory, in case you’ve forgotten all about Statistics – which I highly doubt considering you liked it so much, you somehow managed to download SPSS onto your computer for free. SPSS is apparently a really expensive software (I think I’m using that word right…) for data analysis and it is also the only software we’re taught to use in school. That meant that we had to do everything Statistics-related on SPSS – this software that’s only available to us in school.

I never struggled with not having it on my laptop because I didn’t feel the need to have it with me. I only did statistical analyses when it was required. You, on the other hand, somehow managed to download it for free to “play” with it at home. I couldn’t believe my ears when you first shared this with me. You liked Statistics so much you found a way to get an expensive software for free just to use it more? Could never be me. I remember you actually offering to help me download it onto my laptop but I politely turned you down. You then rationalized my rejection with, “Your MacBook probably can’t handle the software anyway!”

Anyway, you’ve always helped me with Statistics. I was never very good at it. I could do it, but what would take me thirty minutes would take you ten. You had a knack for numbers and tech, so it was really not surprising that you were so good at Statistics. After you passed, Statistics was one of the hardest classes for me to take because I knew how much you would have loved it. We moved on to much more complex analyses and though I was able to do it, I couldn’t help but wonder how much fun (and faster) it would have been to do it with you.

For my thesis, I chose to do a really complex model. My bad. Lately I’ve been thinking I might have bitten off more than I can chew. Your sister very kindly reminded me that I would have hated doing a simpler model, and she is quite right. I had to do a bunch of analyses and the SPSS you downloaded came in handy. I was able to do most of my work on your computer. I took that as you helping me out. Without your genius, I would have had to make several trips to school and they could have all been futile. So, thank you, Josh, for liking Statistics so much that you’re helping me “write” my thesis. This is really a joint effort.

Unfortunately, part of my model involves a new extension that isn’t compatible with the version of SPSS you have. I have to make one last trip to school to finish the last part of my analyses. Nevertheless, your help was very much appreciated. I could not have done this without you. I am trying not to think about how metaphorical this situation is.

Again, thank you thank you thank you for your Statistics help. I spent hours in your room, sitting at your desk, with Cadbury at my feet, trying to analyze all my data. I couldn’t help but wonder if the dogs miss doing this with you – Cadbury sitting at your feet as you worked, and Knight walking in and out of your room. As I looked at my data and results, your words constantly rang in my mind, “Don’t be scared by all the numbers and tables. If you calm down and look at what you’re supposed to, you can understand them quite easily.” You’re right again, as always.

Can’t wait to see you again. I love you more, always, and forever.

Love always,
Sha