Dear Kids,
I used to be a very punctual person when I was younger. I’m not blaming anyone for the change, but the fact is things changed at some point in my life. I’m sure you remember all the yelling and screaming I did about how we were going to be late and we needed to leave NOW!
Well, I’m sorry to say once again I’m late: this time about 10 years too late. I should have done something like this years ago; but honestly, it never really occurred to me until about a month ago. I can’t remember exactly what it was now, but when we were on vacation in Lynchburg, VA, I was thinking about what would happen if I died and left you and whether you would remember me, if you would remember the interesting things we did, or the lessons I tried to teach you, or the things I used to say to you. And it occurred to me that I had seen the solution in a TV show SBR used to love and watch obsessively.
“Good Luck Charlie” was a Disney show about three siblings helping raise their baby sister, Charlie. The events in each episode became material for a video diary Teddy, the oldest daughter, was making for Charlie. She hoped the videos would provide useful advice for Charlie after they had both grown up and moved out. What a brilliant premise (and I have to admit that compared to other shows you watched, “Good Luck Charlie” wasn’t so bad). So, I’m shamelessly appropriating the idea, but instead of making videos, I’m using the medium I’m more comfortable with, writing.
SBR, a few days ago, you asked me “what is ‘’?” I’m sorry I snapped at you that you shouldn’t be snooping on my computer. I was a) embarrassed you found the site and b) I wasn’t ready to share what I was planning. I’m sure you don’t remember the incident, but I do. And I feel bad. I should have been proud of my idea and shared it with you then so we could work on this together.
Nevertheless, here we are…my first post in what I hope will be a years-long project to share with the three of you things that are happening in our lives and things I want to share with you and hope you’ll think about when you’re older. I’m not planning on going anywhere soon, but just in case it happens now, while you’re still young, I hope this will help you conjur memories of our lives together.
As I said, I’m about 10 years too late since SBR’s about to turn 11 next month. I contemplated writing a bunch of posts and back-dating them, but then I decided that would be too much work, and it’s better to just start here and move forward. If something comes up and I remember a great story about something that happened 5 years ago, I’ll write about, but I’m starting with today and moving forward.
So, here we go. As the quote above states, the “journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and this post is the first step. I do hope I’m able to keep this blog up, and I hope that when you read through it you remember the good times (and perhaps the bad times, for even those times have helped to shape your lives and make you who you are). I hope that you will laugh at our antics and, perhaps, you’ll understand a bit better why Ima and I did what we did or said what we said. I think at the end of it all, , I want you to remember our lives together and that no matter what, Ima and I love each of you very much and are so proud that you’re our children.
Love,
Aba
