What I want you to know

   I've always shared stories about memories when I was younger with my daughter. I want her to know all about what makes me, me. I feel sharing stories with her bonds us together and gives us a relationship that is open, honest and special.
   She will be a senior this year and while I rejoice for the new adventures to come in her life, part of me wants to jump in a time machine and go back to when she was a little girl. When I close my eyes, I can still see her little round face, bright eyes and heart melting smile. Now, I see a little girl who has grown into a beautiful young woman.
   This year will be full of preparing for the future. Selecting a college, applying for scholarships and getting ready to leave home. More than anything, I want to prepare her for what's ahead on the road of life. I know it's a journey she cannot take holding my hand. I know it's a journey where she will experience things I haven't prepared her for and I know it's a journey she will face with independence and confidence.

The Summer I Conquered Fear

   I took a drive through our park the other day and a flood of memories washed over me as I drove past the swimming pool. Many a summer day was spent at the pool enjoying the summer break. As a member of the "fair skinned" club, I suffered quite a few sunburns over the years, but that didn't stop me from wanting to be at the pool every day.
I don't consider myself an Olympic swimmer by any stretch of the imagination. As a kid, I swam well enough to hang out at the deep end of the pool with my friends playing games and watching people do tricks off the diving board. When I was a kid, the city pool had a low dive and a high dive. In my mind, the high dive was hundreds of feet in the air. Just looking up at it made me dizzy. I feared the high dive and swore I would never climb those stairs and jump!