12 years later, and what have I learned?
I have learned to always say what you mean; but more importantly, always mean what you say.
I have learned to never give everything away at once, save a little for yourself.
I have learned to accept that everyone is human. We all make mistakes. Expect perfection from no one, least of all yourself.
Always pay on time, and never borrow money.
I have learned to tie my own shoes, ride a bike without training wheels, open and close a butterfly knife, make my own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and how to drive stick.
I have learned how to give without expecting anything in return.
I have learned how to walk away....more importantly, I have learned how to be walked away from and still retain some semblance of grace.
I have learned how to never be intimidated.
I have learned to take everything with a grain of salt, and how not to cry until the doors are closed.
I have learned how to make the perfect caramel macchiato.
I have learned that sometimes people lie to get what they want.
I have learned that history teachers can, indeed, rewrite the past, I have learned that just because someone is older than me doesn't make them smarter than me, I have learned that my brother really is my best friend, and I learned to share my toys.
I learned that what goes up must come down, that all beloved family pets will die.
I have learned that dad is always right.
I have learned to never fall in love with a lovable rogue like you--they always leave you in the end.
I finally learned what dentures are, and I finally figured out that they weren't really your teeth.
But of all the things I've learned, the thing that leaves the most lasting impression from your sudden departure is that goodbye's were never meant to be long; its our job, every day, to make sure that the people we love know how we feel about them. I've spent all these years wishing I could re-do the last moments that I saw you, and it's taken me 12 years to realize how unneccessary my agony and regret were over it; we already both knew.
And I'll be seeing you.
I have learned to never give everything away at once, save a little for yourself.
I have learned to accept that everyone is human. We all make mistakes. Expect perfection from no one, least of all yourself.
Always pay on time, and never borrow money.
I have learned to tie my own shoes, ride a bike without training wheels, open and close a butterfly knife, make my own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and how to drive stick.
I have learned how to give without expecting anything in return.
I have learned how to walk away....more importantly, I have learned how to be walked away from and still retain some semblance of grace.
I have learned how to never be intimidated.
I have learned to take everything with a grain of salt, and how not to cry until the doors are closed.
I have learned how to make the perfect caramel macchiato.
I have learned that sometimes people lie to get what they want.
I have learned that history teachers can, indeed, rewrite the past, I have learned that just because someone is older than me doesn't make them smarter than me, I have learned that my brother really is my best friend, and I learned to share my toys.
I learned that what goes up must come down, that all beloved family pets will die.
I have learned that dad is always right.
I have learned to never fall in love with a lovable rogue like you--they always leave you in the end.
I finally learned what dentures are, and I finally figured out that they weren't really your teeth.
But of all the things I've learned, the thing that leaves the most lasting impression from your sudden departure is that goodbye's were never meant to be long; its our job, every day, to make sure that the people we love know how we feel about them. I've spent all these years wishing I could re-do the last moments that I saw you, and it's taken me 12 years to realize how unneccessary my agony and regret were over it; we already both knew.
And I'll be seeing you.