in case you guys have been wondering…

i’m sorry that i’ve been so quiet on twitter and on my blog… i have been letting the whole “being home” thing sink in. i’ve also been working very hard on this blog. i spent a few hours on this and i hope i didn’t disappoint. i always keep my promises and i promised that i would read EVERY single letter i received. well here goes a few responses… there will be more to come, i promise. i keep every single one. i love you guys with all my heart and i hope this shows how much i truly appreciate you….

samantha leonard- thank you so much for taking the time to write me. you wrote that you were worried that i have forgotten about you guys, because i hadn’t posted on here for awhile. that couldn’t be farther from the truth. i was going through a rough time and just needed to take a bit to pull myself together. i will never forget about you and i promise you that until the day that i breathe my last breathe i will be here for you guys.

adriane M.- thank you for calling me mr. batman. it gave me a pretty big smile. i also want to say thank you for reminding me that strength can always be found. even if it’s like a needle in a haystack. i would love to check out that beach… i love nothing more than to explore and experience places i’ve never been or seen before!

jessica anne- you are a very good writer. i was very impressed! you have a bright future ahead of you. you also must be very strong… i cannot imagine going through what you go through especially with everything you told me about. i’m glad you found that music can give you strength when you feel like there is nothing left. as long as you believe in yourself..i promise you will get through everything. try talking to them. sit them down. you are a beautiful person, and they need to see that. if they don’t make an effort to love you and if they don’t see how amazing you are, then they don’t deserve to know you or to feel the love you have to offer. chin up, okay? 

p.s. tell michael i said hi

grace novacek- your songs were amazing! keep up the good work. i’m actually working on some lyrics right now. it’s not easy to put words together to form a story or a beautiful song…but you managed to do a great job! i’m rootin’ for you…

alyx reimer- i can’t believe “i’m a wonder” is your favorite song. i didn’t think many people had even heard that one! it’s one of my favorites too. i am really sorry about your friend. sometimes people get scared and they feel like the only option is to run. keep supporting her and being their for her. i am sure she will come around. promise me that you’ll never give up hope…even if those around you do.i’ll always be here to catch you before you hit the ground.

holly pulgarin- hahaha i laughed out loud when you wrote about how you tie your shoes like me. we’re such dorks. also, i assure you that my handwriting is much more crooked than yours. i really hope you enjoyed the show in albuquerque…we had a blast. if this whole band thing doesn’t work out, maybe i’ll take your advice and submit my resume to hallmark. :)

jessica devoss- it was great meeting you! how crazy is it that our parents are friends? how do you like reno? i think you’ll like vegas a lot. at first, it’s a bit intimidating..but i promise you that after a while you’ll feel right at home. hopefully we can hang out soon! 

sabrina meleo- US magazine!? that’s where you found us!? INSANE. thank you so much for caring enough to come to multiple shows. our band would be nothing without people like you and i hope you realize how much we appreciate everything. it’s pretty cool that “lights” is your favorite song on our new Lady Lucky EP, because it almost didn’t make it. i fought really hard for it. at first the label said no, but the video of us playing it acoustic did so well on youtube and people requested it so much that i made sure it made it. did you know “lights” was one of the few songs i played for pete solo, just me and a guitar, the night he signed us? guess we did something right :P see you soon!

pamela (san francisco)- first off, my brain is much faster than my hand too! you are a great writer. this has to be one of the best and well written letters i have ever gotten.  the amazing thing about music, is that it is unique to everyone. that..we don’t have to necessarily be able to put how we feel into words, because music can be our little secret. our escape. it doesn’t matter what it means to anyone else. all the matters is what it means to YOU. i can’t believe you said i’m “40 different kinds of amazing.” that is not true! i’m just a regular guy. a big goofball, to be honest. you can interview me anytime you want, okay? thank you for calling me a beautiful person..though i’m sure you are even more amazing than you’d ever give yourself credit for. you’ve got a light about you. it’s very refreshing. go inspire those around you. you have it in you.

kara elizabeth- 8 is my favorite number, so the fact that you’ve seen us 8 times is rad. you can say thank you for me signing and hanging in the Boston heat, but I want to thank YOU for waiting around in that heat to meet us and share your amazing presence with us. thanks for the tigger..i am looking at him right now. he’s such a handsome little guy. just as you’ll always be there supporting us, we’ll always be here supporting you.

lexi moreland- why in the heck are you up at 2:33 am!? i thought i was the only crazy one!  i can’t wait to read your tumblr. i’m sure it’s incredible! you are so strong to have gotten through what you have gotten through. people like you are MY heroes. you CAN reach your goals. your dreams CAN come true. we all forget that sometimes. and WOW! your dog is so cute!

miranda ashley nunez- you are one hundred percent right. our imperfections are what make us beautiful. how boring would the world be if we all looked the same!? thank you for driving 6 hours to come see us. that seriously makes my heart drop. i try to be as honest as i can in my blogs. i don’t look as you guys as strangers…you are my family. when i’m down, you pick me up. if i don’t have you guys…who do i have? i’ll always be honest. haha aww you’ll find your edward! have you met our merch guy sonny? JUST KIDDING! sorry..that was a lame joke. your letter wasn’t cheesy or weird. your letter was beautiful and heartfelt…and that means so much to me. the pink ink started getting to my eyes a bit after a while, but i think they’ll be just fine :) can’t wait to meet you again! take care…and don’t be afraid to smile….even if it’s at a stranger.

mandi ontis- first off..i am so sorry about the ridiculous face i made in the picture of us! i can be pretty shy so the only way to cover it up is by making the most obnoxious facial expressions possible. i think it’s great that you want to work in this industry..it can be such a fun place! very dramatic and cliquey at times…but overall it’s a blast. it’s tough to break into but i have faith in you. always be a whisper warrior!! never change!!! thank you so much for all of the kind words. you’re a doll.

kc and the stickamers- haha i’ll definitely have to join your room sometime and chat! i’m crossing my fingers that emma watson will be there. you guys sound crazy! jonas brothers sing alongs? you think i’m crazy????………..ah what the hell! let’s do it!

shannon marie spellman- did you every get to meet me? i hope so because you seem like a great person. william and travis are some of my people in the world too. looks like we have a lot in common. looking back on our show at natick is amazing. how crazy was that show? so hectic but it turned out to be such a memorable experience for everyone involved. we’ve truly never done anything like that. “high hopes” is one of my favorites too. it’s extremely fun to sing. sorry it took me so long to write back. forgive me? i took your dare. i love you :) did your face hurt? mine does if i smile for that long!

rachael polansky- isn’t inspire a beautiful word? i can’t think of a better one to be printed on my shoulder for life, or for you to wear around your neck. i think it us beautiful that you want to help kids that have been bullied. being bullied is such a terrible feeling. i know first hand. it is the lowest feeling. some people just don’t care about other people’s feelings. IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING BULLIED PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. do NOT let them talk down to you. you are just as much of a person as they are. people that bully are insecure and are hurting on the inside. if anything we should be sorry for THEM. i know it hurts but you have to continue to be strong. tell your parents, tell your principle…whatever you do…do NOT let them get away with it. people need to realize that it takes more energy to be rude and cruel to someone than it does to be kind and loving. we are all one. we are all people. we all have families. we all have beating hearts. and we all have smiles wrapped in little boxes just waiting to be opened. love with everything you’ve got. spread the word. don’t let anyone…and i mean ANYONE slow you down. you have a life to live and you are going to do it right.  you CAN make a difference, rachael. you can, will, and probably already have a lot more than you know.

michelle warsing- your “h” does not look like a diseased cow haha it looks like a polka dotted flamingo. thanks for the drawing. i love you guys too.

paige nicole kerschan-  i know how you feel about not being a teenager. i was seriously bummin out when i turned twenty. it feels like the best days and times of your life are slowly disappearing in the rearview mirror. i’ve come to learn though, the life is truly what you make of it. i read stories of 90 year olds skydiving..of 75 year old couples sailing the world. age truly is just a number, and though some great times may be behind you..the best is yet to come. you were at that kansas city show? i was in so much pain that night. i’d never been in crutches before but we didn’t want to disappoint you guys. i hope we did okay. i am glad you are pushing forward with your dreams even though some people are putting them down. life is too short to live your life for someone else. your life is in your hands..it always will be. let your heart take the wheel. 

phoebe svoboda- the fact that you went to TWELVE different stores to find a copy of our record is truly so kind of you. are you an 1989 baby too!? that’s awesome. it’s an honor to say i was born in the wonderful decade called the 80’s. i’m glad i bring happy tears to your eyes and not sad ones. your words truly have touched me….you are much to nice to me. you are way more cool than me already, i promise you. i read your whole letter and no…i’m not bored or pyscho. well, actually..i may be a little crazy..but who isn’t!? i hope you’re doing well. and LMAO! best closing line to a letter EVER…

“THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING DEAD/DYING <3” hahahahahahahah!!!!

lauren polanksy- are you and rachael related!? haha i was having deja vu for a moment. thanks for the gorgeous letter. it was short, but very sweet. and if you really want to know what happens in vegas….you’ll just have to come and see for yourself!

paloma de oliveira- your letter made me smile from ear to ear. the lyrics around the whole letter definitely was a fun and caring touch! you really DO have an opinion..i promise you it matters. you really CAN help people. i’m glad you realize that. it is crazy to me to hear that you think that i have saved you..because you saved me. i have felt lost so many times and i can get really lonely and homesick..but your letter really came in at a great time. don’t apologize for being a sap…i’m a big sap too! you seemed perfect until you wrote that pooh is better than tigger… now i’m not so sure…haha! just kidding. i love you just the same..but tigger will always own pooh. ALWAYS. if there is one thing i’m sure about, it’s that tigger is the coolest, most lovable character in the world. get over it :P

madeline berg- honey…i can see and feel how down you are. i can tell by reading your letter that you have so much to offer this world. you’re smart, funny, and a genuine person. all of those clouds in your sky are only going to make the sun seem brighter when it finally peeks it’s head out. it must be so hard to move around so much. as a boy, i went to 7 different schools. i know how hard and stressful it can be. all i can say is that good things happen to good people. i know that you are a good person. find something that calms you down. whether it be writing, reading, painting…anything. funnel all of the negativity and bad energy and transform it into something beautiful. if e*** doesn’t think you’re pretty, than he is blind and doesn’t realize how great of a girl you are. someone wonderful one day will, and you will live the life you have always dreamed of. i’ll never stop being me if you promise to never stop being you. deal? i have faith in you.

please don’t be upset if i didn’t respond to your letter in this blog. maybe i will on the next one. i do the best that i can… i really do. even if i don’t respond.. i still read them. take care. i love and miss you all a lot and i’ll be posting very frequently! you guys mean the world to me. be strong. i’ll ALWAYS be here for you as long as you give me the chance to be.

-alexander michael