For my sister..

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

My sister graduated on Saturday. Finally, she says. She was ready to be done with it and be on to something else. I hit the ground running on Saturday running around trying to help my Mom get things taken care of for the party afterwards. By the time I sat down at the graduation I was sweating. It was great to see her walk across that stage but I was ready for the party (did I mention I hadn't eaten anything all day?)



At the party, my job was to take pictures and make sure people signed the photo album. It didn't go exactly how I had planned, but it all worked out in the end..as those things usually do. I finally had something to eat and had a glass or two of wine. Megan loved my gift (it's the painting in the picture above). I didn't paint it myself, I wish I had talent like that. But, I knew it would be something she would enjoy in her new place. Everyone seemed to know exactly what to get her (in a lot of cases, money was the name of the game).



The very next day she ran off to camp. She'll be working there for the summer so we probably won't see much of her. And then after camp she is moving to Dallas. The time I was dreading will be here. Since that post, things have changed slightly. I'll still be sad to see her go but I am no longer scared for her. I know that where ever she goes, she'll do just fine. She'll find her way, and make new friends, and discover how to handle things herself. There might be mis-steps, set backs, near disasters...who doesn't have stories like that from their beginnings? But those events will soon turn into the stories we laugh about later.



“This is my wish for her: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss her lips, sunsets to warm her heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for her eyes to see, friendships to brighten her being, faith so that she can believe, confidence for when she doubts, courage to know herself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete her life.”

I know she will go out into the world and find all of that....and probably much more.