Dearest Ellen,

I’ve written you quite a bit over the last couple years and a LOT lately. I orginally wrote you in hopes of making one of my personal lifetime dreams come true....meeting Britney Spears. It was quite selfish and something I wanted more than ANYTHING. It’s still something I really want, but I come to you yet again with hopes of making the DREAMS of millions of ONE TREE HILL fans all over the WORLD come true. I had to alter my orginal letter to you, because a lot of it changed since back in June/July. My goal is to get the ENTIRE CAST OF ONE TREE HILL ON YOUR SHOW. I know it will happen, and in this letter I am going to explain the dedication I have, and just how much I know this can and WILL happen.

So why put the OTH cast on your show, well in case you didn’t know this is their last and final season. They’ve been on the air for 9 AMAZING years, and this would be an amazing farewell tribute. I think the fans would love to see EVERYONE together, ONE last time. When I say the ENTIRE cast I mean EVERYONE. Including Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray, If you could help make that happen, that would be AMAZING. We are so sad this show is ending and if we got this little bit of closure, It would make the hurt just a little bit better. I started writing you actual letters and tweets and emails back in June and I sent a LOT!!!! I loved seeing people on Twitter getting super excited about seeing this happen. An amazing girl actually created an @OTHCastOnEllen Twitter account and has made a pretty amazing campaign. She and others write to you everyday. I love where these tweets have led people to really want this. This will Happen I just know it!!!!

I created my OTH account back in May and I started off with just 40 followers. How do I remember it was 40, because the second time I logged in, it showed 40 followers and it surprised me that I even had that. I created my account during an episode where the characters were dealing with possibly losing the River Court FOREVER. I started thinking how much the river court not only shaped my life, but SAVED it as well. So thats where @RiverCourtSML (Saved My Life) came from. I slowly but surely started gaining more and more followers. Connecting with other fans and talking about the show that made me who I am today, is something I FULLY enjoy. I started off with 40 followers, and today I am at 2,163. That is huge and blows my mind everytime I see it. I never once asked for followers they always came to me and I think thats what means the most to me. I made this account to help others and to make a difference. I use this account for only good and inspiring words. Being told I made someone’s day, is just the words I need to know I’m doing the RIGHT thing.

I’ve connected with a lot of other OTH fans and together we are OTHfamily. Its truly a BEAUTIFUL thing. Back in June one of my followers was going to Wilmington and I instantly was intrigued and wanted to know more. i never got a chance to go over the past nine years and now the set and rivercourt is gone, so I missed my chance. We started talking and she told me how she wished she’d see Joy (BETHANY JOY GALEOTTI) while she was there. You see the girl I started talking to Karen Barney was in a wheelchair. Thats not the reason I started talking to her though, I started talking to her because we had common interest and I was genuinely HAPPY for her. She got to Wilmy and was promised a tour of the studio, but when she got there no one was there. She also found out the cast wasn’t going to be there either. She was a month early. When I wrote to her on twitter asking her how her trip was, she told me good, but she didn’t see Joy. It broke my heart. I told her it will HAPPEN one day I just know it. She wanted to show me her pictures from her trip so we added each other on Facebook and started connecting that way.

We continued to talk on twitter, and FB and by text message. I wanted her to believe in her dream, and to not give up on it. She started losing faith, and gave up on her dream. Thats when I started writing you letters, emails, and a LOT of tweets. I wanted to share Karen’s story with the world and I wanted her to meet her Idol. I sent maybe 5 letters every week for awhile and tweeted you everyday over the summer. I not only WANTED THE ENTIRE CAST on your show, but to make Karen’s dream come true. I was not giving up on Karen’s dream, even if she was ready to. You see Karen has Cerebal Palsy but you would never know it. She had heart surgery when she was 16 and went through a serious depression, and OTH and Joy were the only things that got her through it. This show, especially JOY saved HER life.

So why fight for someone else’s dream? Well I’ve been pretty darn lucky myself. Especially lately. I think where my luck started was back in 2005, I would say March 8th to be exact. You see OTH had a concert series and they came to SF. It was a concert feauturing Gavin DeGraw, Bethany, Tyler Hilton, and the Wreckers (Michelle Branch/Jessica Harp). It was pretty AMAZING seeing the stars I listened to and watched live and in person. I was in the second row so it was pretty cool. After the show they had a meet and greet and I had to do it. My idol Sophia Bush was going to be doing it and I would wait all night just to meet her. We ended up being pretty much last in line, but it was ok. I was not leaving. We got closer and then there was a railing overlooking where we had to go downstairs. I got a glimpse of Sophia and she waved to me, I was very excited!! Finally it was our turn. First met Tyler, he was kind of an ass, excuse my language. We asked for a picture, but he said no he couldn’t. But the people behind us got one. I forgive you Tyler. I even Tweeted him about and he responded. Then I met Joy she was so sweet and kind. She loved my shirt, it was blue with stars (when the stars go blue). Then it was Sophia. She was the most gorgeous person I had ever met in my entire life. She is so incredibly BEAUTIFUL in person. She was engaged to Chad at the time, and showed me her ring. I felt honored. It was very stunning. She signed my stuff in two places which made me so very happy. She even Spelled my name right, that’s hard because my name is Kristin and even my family spells it Kristen sometimes. She was very sweet. She’s been my idol since I was 14 and to meet her was EVERYTHING. I then met lee Norris and he was so cute in person and so kind!!! That event was one of the best nights of my entire life. I felt very blessed being a part of it.

Then In Jan 2008 I won passes from my local radio station Star 101.3 and got to see a private show of Sara Barieiles. It was pretty amazing and I got to meet her and everything. A couple weeks later James Lafferty from OTH was going to be at the MACY’S store downtown SF. I had to be there. I had work, so I had get there around noonish. People were already lined up, and had wristbands and everything. I found the end of the line, and was told they ran out of wirstbands and I probably wasn’t going to meet James. I stuck with it, and more people got in line, and we all stayed. We came to see James and we were NOT going ANYWHERE. Several times the event planner told us he probably would NOT get to us. After about the “100th” time he said that I told him, obviously you don’t know what show we’re here waiting for do you? He was dumbfounded, I told him this show has taught us all to BELIEVE and we will see James, I just know it. 3 Hours later it was my turn. I got to meet James Lafferty!! He was so hot in person and so sweet!!!! I even saw one of the producers Joe Davola and Jame’s Brother Stuart. It was a pretty good day. Also that year I went to my first hip hop concert and the singer Akon was literally right on top of me. He was crowd surfing and it was something you see on tv or something. In July of that year I went to a Natasha Bedingfield concert and Natasha actually walked by outside before hand..so she waved and said Hi. I was in awe. Kate Voegelle performed that night too (she plays Mia) she would be amazing on your show :)

Then in March 2009 I won yet another contest from Star. This time it was for Gavin Degraw. He sings the theme song of OTH  so I love him so very much. I had seen him perform 3 others times, but this time it was very intimate and personal. I got to meet him and he was seriously one of the sweetest guys ever. You know when you put the cast on your show you should have him perform :) A month later I won yet again, and got to see Mat Kearney perform. That was pretty amazing as well. Then over the summer, I won VIP passes to Outside Lands Festival from Wild 94.9 and got to meet The Black Eyed Peas.....that was pretty 

AMAZING!!!!!

In the summer of 2010 I went to Las Vegas for my 21st Birthday and they had a movie premiere for The Expendables, so I got to see Holly Madison, Charisma Carpenter, Steve Austin, Arnold, Eric Roberts, and all those other men in the movie. The only other time I had seen movie premiere was back in 2006 for Snakes on a plane and Samuel Jackson actually came by and shook our hands...that was pretty amazing. Then In November of 2010 my luck had returned yet again. I won passes to see Natasha Beddingfield in an intimate performance from Star 101.3..yet again. 

2011 was probably the year where the most happened. I got my first tweet from Khloe Kardashian in Jan which started everything. Then in Feb I went to the Sf Giants fanfest and got to meet some of my fave baseball players. I think my favorite moment was when Giants pitcher Brian Wilson literally opened the door for me!!! He was literally right there. 

Then I found out Britney Spears was coming to my city to perform and do her GMA performance. I had to be there. There were radio contests and everything. I spent hours everyday trying to win, not even joking. Few weeks later a station made a contest where you had to break something for Britney, Stupid me said my mom’s favorite vase. My mom doesn’t even have one...they said no. So I continued to try to win. I was tweeting non stop and on the phone constantly. I finally got desperate and put my cell phone number on one of the radio hosts twitter accounts, in hopes they’d call. He called and left a message, but I missed it. It was a blocked number, so I missed it. I missed my chance, but I wasn’t giving up, I left my number again and he called. This time it was both guys. They had a Proposition for me, I was intrigued and said I would do ANYTHING to see Britney. They knew I was tweeting them and their competition so they asked where my loyality was...I said them because they were giving me this shot. They told me what I had to do....SING BRITNEY SONGS FOR 3 HOURS STRAIGHT!!! I said yes I was down and a couple days before the show I went to their studio and sang for 3 hours. When I was done they had the studio producer pretend that I didn’t win...my heart sunk, but then they said I won. I won VIP passes to Britney’s GMA performance. I ended up being first row, and it was EVERYTHING AND MORE.

Then in April I did this Workout in the PARK for SELF magazine with my mom and sister and we got to meet Ali Sweeney. I grew up watching her on DAYS so that was pretty cool. Then in May I got my first Direct Message from Chad Michael Murray, That seriously made me the happiest girl ever. Its kind of ridicoulus how many times he’s written me since that. 26 times....8 on my personal twitter and 18 on my Rivercourtsml account. Blows my mind everytime. Since I went to Britney’s GMA performance, I was ok with not going to her concert in June...ok so that was so not the case. I wanted to be there so bad. So no joke the day before the concert I won tickets to her show from 99.7 NOW. I was so HAPPY and so very blessed. Then In July I won a meet and greet from 99.7 to see Gabe Saporta and Ryland from Cobra Starship. That very day July 21st, I was working and my co worker sent me a tweet saying the Kardashians were at our mall at Sears. I said no way, I was on my 15 so I decided to head over there and sure enough, they were there. They were filming their Gma segment with Laura Spencer. They walked right passed me. It was pretty surreal. I got to see ALL three Karashian Sisters in person, it was a pretty amazing day.

The next big thing to happen was on July 31st. I got to meet my idol Sophia Bush for the 2nd time in my life. She had ran the 5k at the SF MARATHON, and was doing a cheer station afterwards. So I got to cheer on the crowd right next to her it was pretty amazing. I didn’t get a picture with her the first time around so I had to this time. I wanted to tell her how I really felt, but she was so in her element that it meant more to watch her doing her thing. I could of been selfish and got what I wanted but, but that’s not who I am. She literally made my day. Our picture is in my room and its one of my most prized possessions. I know one day I will get the chance to tell Soph, How much she truly means to me and what an impact she’s truly left on my life. She’s my greatest inspiration and is my EVERYTHING. Cannot wait for that day. Then in Sept I caught my first ball at a baseball game...without hesitating I gave it to the little girl right next to me. I had wanted this since I was a little girl, but it seriously meant so much more to give it her. Then In october, I won passes to see The Plain White T’s in an intitmate performance. They are so good live...after the show, I walked down the stairs with Tom and we talked for a bit, it was pretty amazing. Later that month I entered a contest on twitter to win a ticket to the team true beauty one year event. You see I entered so that Karen could go. Bethany was going to be there, and I thought this would be perfect. I wouldn’t know for a few weeks if I had won, but I really wanted this for Karen.

So in November I won passes yet again...this time to see The Fray!!! They were absolutely AMAZING live. When I met them they were the sweetest guys ever too. Later that month, I got word I won the contest for the Team True Beauty Event. I immediately texted Karen, and told her she was going. I told her her dream was coming true. She was so very happy. A couple days later, Karen told me to take the ticket, because there was no way she could go. Her family didn’t have the money to make it out from upstate New York to Los Angeles. It broke my heart hearing that. I guess I didn’t think it through, I didn’t see money as a problem. I felt horrible and guilty and just plain terrible. I couldn’t not go, Karen wanted me to go and put on a pretty dress and have an amazing time. A few weeks later, Karen told me that since I seemed to believe in her dream, that she was going to start to as well. She took out a loan for over a thousand dollars so that her mom, dad and herself could fly out to LA and attend the event. I was so overjoyed and so happy to hear that. It broke my heart she had to take out all that money, but made me so very happy to see that her dream was about to come true in a couple months. I told her to have an amazing time, I gave her my ticket back. She said She wanted me to go and be there when She met Joy, so I started planning on going to the event as well. I had trouble with the site buying my ticket, so Karen being the person she is, she told me to keep the ticket I won..I felt bad, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She had bought another ticket just in case. So the event became closer and closer. Not only was she going to meet Joy, but we were going to meet for the first time as well. So we started counting down the days.

In the meanwhile on Decemember 11th, I got to meet Chad Michael Murry for the first time. I’ve been a fan of his since 2000, and when I saw he was on OTH I instantly fell in love. He wrote a graphic novel, and was going on tour and I hoped for SF everyday!!! When he announed it I freaked out. He orginally said it was going to be in March, so glad it was sooner. The night before, I could not sleep. The morning of I was so excited. I got there and I was the first person in line, I didn’t want to be the first. I mean I didn’t mind, I just didn’t want to wait in the city by myself. I Went for a walk and when I returned someone was in line. I was then second in line. Which was fine by me. I wrote to Chad and told him I was second. We still had a few more hours. I heard girls screaming and that meant one thing, Chad had arrived. He drove himself, that shows how truly down to earth and humble he truly is. I saw him through the glass of the store and my heart sunk. His Fiance Kenzie Dalton came out and she is very pretty and down to earth. It was really nice meeting her. Then Chad walks out and it all became real. This was really happening. He is gorgoeus in person. Like he is seriously so hot. Finally it was time to go in. I was so excited and so ready. While inside he goes one of you is RivercourtSML. I raised my hand and he said its nice to finally put a face to the name. This literally made my day. He knew who I was. When he grabbed my hand it was so geniune and sincere. We talked for quite a while. And then I told him how appreciative I was of him for everything he had done for me over the years.

Over the summer he posted something that was near and dear to my heart on his twitter. It was my birthday wish, you see on june 24th, 2010 I lost my 22 year old cousin to Stage 4 lung cancer and my birthday wish was so raise as much money as I could in honor of my cousin Jill. I thanked him for doing that. Then I asked if he could make a short video for the people who could not make it, and he did. He ended up putting me in the video with him, and grabbed my phone and everything. That was a highlight of my year for sure. He was so kind and sweet and everything I had dreamed about over the years. That’s why when you put the ENTIRE CAST on your show you MUST include him AS WELL. He’s a HUGE reason this show is what it is today.

Then finally 2012 started. it was now a few days until the Team True Beauty Event. The cw annouced a special screening of the first episode with a Q&A with the cast. I wanted to be there so bad, but my flight was set for a couple days later, and I could’t change it. There was a contest the night before, and I had to try to win tickets for Karen since she was going to be in LA that night. For the contest we had to write our favorite episode or scene from the show. I choose The wind that blew my heart away. That’s my go to episode and the Brucas scene in the rain gets me EVERYTIME. So I ended up winning a pair of passes, and Karen was so happy, but her plane was expected to be delayed...so she told me to give them away. So I gave them to two deserving followers of mine. They were so happy. I got to make two AMAZING girls dreams come true. That feeling is indescribable and so WORTH it. I would of given anything to be in that room, ANYTHING. I could of made it happen, but like I said seeing other people’s dreams come true mean so much more to me.

Finally it was the day of the event. I made it to LA. I checked into my hotel and then went to meet Karen for the first time. It was so surreal, because although we talked all the time we finally got to see each other close up. It was pretty cool. She gave me an owl necklace, because she said it reminded her of the the owl scene from the show and that she saw me as a sister to her. Hearing that meant the world to me. We got ready for the event and Karen’s dream came true that night. The venue had a lot of stairs so she had to literally crawl up the stairs....thats dedication right there. That’s how much her dream means to her. She finally got to meet Joy that night and it was truly a beautiful thing to witness. 

That night I got to meet some pretty amazing OTHfamily members. I wish I had gotten to talk to them more, but I didn’t want to leave Karen. I hope to meet more OTHfamily members. I got to Meet Shantel VanSanten that night and she was seriously so very sweet. She gave me two AMAZING hugs and her words to me meant everything. I then got to meet Daphne Zuniga, Sharon Lawrence, India de Beaufort, Joy, Amber Sweeney and other non OTH people. It was truly a beautiful night. Karen gave up on her dream and I told her it would happen and it DID. That’s why i’m writting you this now, very long letter. I apologize, but it is so very important. I write to you in hopes of possibly getting Karen the money she had to take out for her loan. I know its a longshot, but all the things I posted were proof I have not only the luck but determination to make things happen. Help me make this happen for Karen. It would mean EVERYTHING and more.

Seeing all the things I posted about might seem as I’m the luckiest girl alive. Yes its true I have been blessed and fortunate for all of these amazing things to happen to me, but in the midst of this I certainly had my own struggles. In December 2009 I was involved in what could of been a FATAL car accident. A 100ft tree came crashing down on my car. I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. I thought that was it.....everything went black. I opened my eyes and I was alive. Didn’t know how or why....the tree totaled my car and left me with just a scratch on my forehead and a badly bruised collarbone. I was truly BLESSED that night. If I didn’t put my breaks on  when I did I probably would not be writting this right now. I had to buy a new car and I am still trying to pay it off, even after 2 years. Slowly but surely its happening. I was so confused afterwards why I was saved that night. Then it hit me....I was SAVED to help make a difference and to make a change and to help others. OTH taught me that life is hard sometimes, but it is worth living. OTH got me through that hard time. OTH got me through every hard time, good time and EVERYTHING. One tree almost ended my life, but ONE completely saved mine :)

That’s why you MUST put the entire CAST on your show. I mean everyone!!!!! The current cast plus CHAD AND HILARIE. What an AMAZING TRIBUTE THAT WOULD BE. Not everyone gets a chance to meet the cast and this is a way everyone could get to see them and get the closure they need. I’ve been fortunate to have met 4 out of the 5 core 5 cast members. I have yet to meet Hilarie but I know that will happen one day. I also would love to thank Mark for EVERYTHING he’s done not only for me, but for ALL THE LIVES HE SAVES, EVERYDAY. I hope to finish up meeting the cast, I would love to meet Austin, Rob, Antwon, Stephan (he walked by me during his Laguna days and I wasn’t paying attention), Paul, Jackson, Kate and others. That will happen, one day I just know it. I believe it will. Just like I know you WILL put the ENTIRE cast on your show. There is not a day Ellen, that you do not inspire me to do better and to make a difference. I cry everytime I watch your show, either because I am laughing so hard, i’m crying or because I am geniuinely HAPPY for the lives you share with us all and the lives you help along the way.

I will write you a thousand times if I have to, I will do anything just to assure you put the cast on your show. Its apparent that I will do anything from what I did for Britney!!! You name it, I’ll do it. Ellen you have an amazing heart, if you do this you will make the lives of so many people that much better. You make millions smile and laugh everyday, please do this!!!!!!! Back to the Britney thing, I want that so bad, but I will sacrafice that in order to make this HAPPEN. That’s huge, so please make this happen!!!!! I know in my heart of hearts it will. The OTH CAST ON ELLEN twitter account is active and I hope you see it or read this. I did not make that account, but so happy its there, so many people want this. One way or another IT WILL HAPPEN. I just know it!!!! Thank you Ellen for everything you do!!!! YOU ARE SUCH AN AMAZING INSPIRATION TO US ALL. Sometimes at work, I’ll be listening to music and just start dancing... you teach us all that you have to enjoy life while you can and that you have to live life and ENJOY IT. THANK YOU ELLEN IN ADVANCE. One day I hope to be in your audience!!! That would be amazing!!! Here’s to one day!!!! AND HERE’S TO GETTING THE ENTIRE OTH CAST ON YOUR SHOW!!!!!!!! IT WILL HAPPEN <3

ALL MY LOVE,

KRISTIN ELIZABETH COSTELLO

@RivercourtSML