(For the girl I lit the candles for)

I’ve always had a feeling that my life would be a journey, even an adventure, rather than a routine, race, or a ladder.  All these options have their upsides and downsides, but I’m glad I received what I hoped for – a life that wasn’t uneventful and had deep beauty even though it had difficulty, uncertainty, and doubt.  I also wanted to go to difficult places to do difficult things – for the challenge, honor, and maybe stupidly, glory.  Ultimately, some of that did happen.

So it won’t be a big house, great wealth, fame, the high-powered position, and apparently, not even the security or stability I envisioned.  Instead, it will be memories, stories, actions I’m truly proud of, tears, laughter, pain, joy.  Went many places, saw many things, met many people.  Really high highs, low lows. I saw a wide range of humanity, kings and pawns, sages and fools, heroes and cowards. Not a bad outcome that.

I took you on so much of the journey.  Many times, I would imagine you next to me while I talked to you. 

I wouldn’t have it any other way.