Dear Littler B,
I was sitting and thinking this morning about what to write to you and it dawned on me, in the almost 25 years that have passed between you becoming me - I have lived enough life for 3 people. There has been good and there has been bad. There have been so many times that would break a regular mortal. You/I have just been blessed to have been born with either the spine and fortitude of titanium or just the inability to see defeat in any situation. Only change and progress that might not have been our original goal.
I'm here at the keyboard and splitting mind time with the television while an old (well maybe not old to you) Eddie Murphy movie is on. The Golden Child. He has just gone through the maze to get the knife without spilling a drop of water. That is exactly what the years have been like for me. Somehow though we always seem to make it with minimal water spilled. (go to blockbuster and get the movie, you'll understand)
*************** INSERT SPOILER ALERT HERE ********************
You have had plans and imaginings of what you are going to do with your life. Bubble burst-er that I seem to have become have the last week or so gives me no joy in letting you know that your about to let go of just about every one of them. More than letting go of them, you are actually going to be so much happier that you did.
You are about to become what you hate, a statistic. You are going to be a teenager who is pregnant. People are not going to understand or be very kind. I promise they will get over it quickly and in a HUGE way. Give them their time of shock. Don't freak out. It seems like a ultimate nightmare scenario but it is going to set you on the path for the best possible things you will ever experience even still when you become me. It will also give you some of the absolute worse times, but the best will make up for it and make a lot of the hurt go right out of your mind.
Here are a few words of wisdom in what you are about to face:

2. Laugh - When ever you possibly can and even when you can't.
3. Don't Spank - I tried it one time unfortunately on the child who is a nervous laugh-er, nuf said.
4. Celebrate the small things - Any chance you can take joy and make a memory.
5. Don't get hung on materialistic things - Things are just things. I can't stress this enough. In years to come your curio cabinets are not populated by statues and plates that will break (and they will - look at Mom's old folks) They will be full of pinewood derby cars, painted minis and construction paper treasures.
6. Soap in the mouth is going to scar you not them - I only did this once when one of your daughters learned a certain word starting with the letter B. I still can't get that 10 seconds out of my head almost 20 years later.
7. National headlines fade - At one point believe it or not you are going to be getting your 15 minutes of fame over a judge determining religion of your children. Cry your tears and move on, the rest of the world will.
8. Family is everything - Don't shut them out. Ever. They may not always agree with you, but they are always there for you. No matter what the situation.
9. I Love You - Never miss a chance to let anyone know how much you love them. You will never know if it is the last chance you will get.
10. This too shall pass - I leave you with these words from the wisest man I have ever known, Dad. He is a man of few words but when he opens his mouth to speak, always listen. No matter what the situation it is not the end of the world. (at least it hasn't been up until you become me). You will always find a way through things even when you don't think you can.
From a wiser yet still clueless,
Bigger Little B.
Guns N Roses - Live and Let Die
Def Leopard - Animal
Pat Benatar - Love is a Battlefield
Eagles - Tequila Sunrise
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Eagles - Desperado
The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider
The Steve Miller Band - Take the Money and Run
Eric Clapton - Layla
Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling
The Marshall Tucker Band - Cant You See
The Craig Lewis Band - Change is Gonna Come
Touching! I have so much I wish i could tell my younger self
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hilda! Its been a fun project. I feel sometimes as if I've lived enough for 4 people. My younger self would probably go grey at the thought of what she has to look forward to! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I did one under the same topic too :) if only we could talk to our younger selves lol although things may not be as they are now
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I did one under the same topic too :) if only we could talk to our younger selves lol although things may not be as they are now
ReplyDeleteThanks Steff! If only we knew then what we know now.... Oh the things I could have done so much better! Or more likely would have made sure I did ABSOLUTELY the same!
ReplyDeleteso good maybe my favorite one. is there any blockbusters left? your writing is so honest thats why i love it
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi! I was reading your interview post at http://www.womanpulse.com/2016/02/women-i-admirechatting-with-claudia.html and it made me think. One of her answers is that people don't really know much about the real her. I laughed at that because my writing is the open soul of me.
ReplyDeleteNope, blockbuster went officially defunct 11/7/13. What a shame. Redbox, Netflix and the like have put them in the dinosaur category.