honor to whom honor is due
This is going to be, essentially, two thoughts in one entry. They're not really related, except by a common theme. I just have two things to say, and see no reason to split them up. The more important of the two is the latter one.
I know I've never tried to make this page into a place where I record what goes on in my life--the daily workings of whatever I get up to are far too complicated, and also far too boring, to share on a regular basis. But, in case anybody wanted to know,... and because I'm excited,... I'm leaving almost immediately on a trip! This afternoon I'll be in Toledo, Ohio: I get to see my cousins again! Cassie (who I will mention first because I get to see her for only the second time ever, so far!), and the rest of my relatives in that family, Frank and Claudia, and Veronica and Alondra (the former two being my uncle and aunt, and the latter two being my impossibly cute youngest cousins), and then tomorrow night, as many of my other cousins, aunts and uncles as possible. Or, that's the rough idea. I really don't know who I'm seeing when, because the plans are still being made, but, I can't wait. I only wish I got to see everybody for more than 2 days.
Last night while I was supposed to be sleeping, or working, or packing, I was instead watching a movie that I'd never seen before, which happened to be on TV: a movie entitled "Stepmom". I'm sure some people have seen this, but I hadn't, before last night. Well, movies serve different purposes, depending on the movie. Sometimes they are purely for entertainment. Sometimes they are a waste of time (which may be synonymous with "purely for entertainment" depending on your perspective). And sometimes, they can portray in a dramatic way, situations that we may be able to identify with; and we may actually learn valuable lessons from them. I do have a couple more thoughts I'd like to write up, about 2 other movies I've seen in the last couple months. But those can wait. In this case, I learned something from the movie I watched last night; something that I believe I already knew; but the way it was dramatized brought it to mind and made me think, in a way that was hard to ignore. So the rest of this will be a public pronouncement; public because I'm not ashamed of what I'm about to say and don't mind if anybody reads it. But it's meant for exactly one person.
Mom, I don't ever want to lose you. Not before your time. I know that sometimes I act like I don't care, and maybe even treat you like I want to try to see how well I can get along without you. And you know what? I can do pretty well. I'm an adult. And that's the way adults are--no longer dependent. But just because you're not physically essential to me like you were when I was a baby, doesn't mean you're not incredibly valuable. It doesn't matter that we have our disagreements about what's right and wrong sometimes, and it doesn't matter that I might sometimes follow my own way, with different priorities or perspectives than you might have. I will always be more than half you. Every little thing I do in life is influenced, in some small or big way, by the way you raised me and the things that you taught me, and continue to teach me. I don't ever want to be in the position, while I'm still young (which is going to last a while at this rate, considering you're not even old yet), of not being able to come to you when I could really use some advice, or a recipe, or some homemade bread, or some wisdom from the Bible, or any of the other thousand little things you give me. And I promise to try not to make it look like I'm taking that for granted any more. If I'm ever even annoyed or impatient at some of the things you say, I'd always rather hear you say them than not be able to hear you at all. I remember another time in my life when I told you I loved you. I think it's been long enough I should say it again. I love you mom. See you soon. --Your son, David
I know I've never tried to make this page into a place where I record what goes on in my life--the daily workings of whatever I get up to are far too complicated, and also far too boring, to share on a regular basis. But, in case anybody wanted to know,... and because I'm excited,... I'm leaving almost immediately on a trip! This afternoon I'll be in Toledo, Ohio: I get to see my cousins again! Cassie (who I will mention first because I get to see her for only the second time ever, so far!), and the rest of my relatives in that family, Frank and Claudia, and Veronica and Alondra (the former two being my uncle and aunt, and the latter two being my impossibly cute youngest cousins), and then tomorrow night, as many of my other cousins, aunts and uncles as possible. Or, that's the rough idea. I really don't know who I'm seeing when, because the plans are still being made, but, I can't wait. I only wish I got to see everybody for more than 2 days.
Last night while I was supposed to be sleeping, or working, or packing, I was instead watching a movie that I'd never seen before, which happened to be on TV: a movie entitled "Stepmom". I'm sure some people have seen this, but I hadn't, before last night. Well, movies serve different purposes, depending on the movie. Sometimes they are purely for entertainment. Sometimes they are a waste of time (which may be synonymous with "purely for entertainment" depending on your perspective). And sometimes, they can portray in a dramatic way, situations that we may be able to identify with; and we may actually learn valuable lessons from them. I do have a couple more thoughts I'd like to write up, about 2 other movies I've seen in the last couple months. But those can wait. In this case, I learned something from the movie I watched last night; something that I believe I already knew; but the way it was dramatized brought it to mind and made me think, in a way that was hard to ignore. So the rest of this will be a public pronouncement; public because I'm not ashamed of what I'm about to say and don't mind if anybody reads it. But it's meant for exactly one person.
Mom, I don't ever want to lose you. Not before your time. I know that sometimes I act like I don't care, and maybe even treat you like I want to try to see how well I can get along without you. And you know what? I can do pretty well. I'm an adult. And that's the way adults are--no longer dependent. But just because you're not physically essential to me like you were when I was a baby, doesn't mean you're not incredibly valuable. It doesn't matter that we have our disagreements about what's right and wrong sometimes, and it doesn't matter that I might sometimes follow my own way, with different priorities or perspectives than you might have. I will always be more than half you. Every little thing I do in life is influenced, in some small or big way, by the way you raised me and the things that you taught me, and continue to teach me. I don't ever want to be in the position, while I'm still young (which is going to last a while at this rate, considering you're not even old yet), of not being able to come to you when I could really use some advice, or a recipe, or some homemade bread, or some wisdom from the Bible, or any of the other thousand little things you give me. And I promise to try not to make it look like I'm taking that for granted any more. If I'm ever even annoyed or impatient at some of the things you say, I'd always rather hear you say them than not be able to hear you at all. I remember another time in my life when I told you I loved you. I think it's been long enough I should say it again. I love you mom. See you soon. --Your son, David