A Thank You Note from the Teenager

(This was clipped outside the door when I got home yesterday after work. My sweetheart’s name is initialed, and her full signature is removed for privacy.)

 

Mom,

I know I haven’t been the best daughter in the world.  I’m sorry for treating you that way.  We were told to write a five sentence note on thankfullness to our parents, but you do more than five sentences can cover.

You go to great lengths for us.  Even though it bugs me, you try so hard to let me know how important school and chores are.  You really do seem to know what’s best for me, even if I don’t myself know.  You listen to me, you pay attention.  I love sitting on the couch and watching the news with you, or doing yoga.

You give such great advice!  Some of the hardest times in my life you’ve helped me through.  Even the little things like buying Beefy Mac every night I seem to take for granted. 

You deserve happines.  I promise I’ll try harder to show you that.  I know you want to be with R and I’m thankful you’re waiting until school is over.

You make me feel safe.  You sleep by the door.  In the middle of the night when I hear a noise I worry if there’s a burgler in the house, I remember that the noise would have woken you up and then I feel fine.

You help me remember I can do anything.  You’re a living example that I don’t need anyone to take care of me to be successful.  I admire you as a single mother and as my mother.

I love you 27.

A social observation on the election

I’ve tried for the most part to keep my political views to myself, as it has the potential to cause large fights.  However, I have to say now that I’m disappointed at those around me, including the media, that ignore the fact that our new president is as much white as he is black.  I know that it shouldn’t be an issue at all, and each time I read about the historical significance of electing our first “black” president, I cringe inside that there are still people that can’t see past a person’s skin tone.  It should be insignificant in today’s America. 

Yes, I’m not naive and do understand that there was a point in our country’s history where regardless of his intelligence and political standpoint, he wouldn’t have even made it to the ballot to begin with.  And I do find it fascinating to contemplate what effect the internet has played in this election, in this time of blogging, emails, and online social networks, hearing the message louder than seeing the face.  In all this, though, I am still saddened by the fact that some Americans still vote based off of racial prejudices, made all the more evident by the fact that the Longview News-Journal front page online does not show Obama at all, instead choosing to run a picture of a light-skinned Republican sherriff. 

And there it is.  *Shrug*