Ms L. -- "to harsh" -- people are going to nail you on that verb. Give the kid a break -- the writer admits they can't write Russian!

The problem is the answer -- the translation depends on whether the speaker is a male or a female. Wait! I take that back. It depends on whether the addressee is female or male.

You'd either write Дорогой or Дорогая, and then later the YOU would be the same regardless of gender (form of ТЫ if you use дорог-).

But then there's the usage of дорогой dear, which is different in Russian culture than over here. I never use it in my letters (tho I don't write love letters in Russian!). I just say Привет Иван! or whoever.