Birthday Advice to the Girl in the Photo

Here's a little Happy Birthday advice for the girl in the picture from the woman you've become...

• If you're wearing shorts or skirts, please make sure to put lotion on your knees like your mom said.
• The vegetables you despise now will be much more appealing as you age. In fact, you're going to perfect grilled zucchini and serve it at least once a week.
• Play with your friends as often as you can. You're going to lose some along the way and it will be painful. The death of a friend will change you in more ways than you can imagine.
• Listen more. Talk less.
• Follow your instinct. It's usually right.
• Your first heartbreak will seem like the end of the world, but it's not. When you find true love - and you will - it will be better than you ever imagined.
• Pay attention when your Daddy drags you to his union meetings. You will meet a woman while hanging with your dad at the 1982 Labor Day picnic. When you cast your very first vote in 1990, it will be to elect that same woman as Governor of Texas - and she will win.
• Your mother will take you block walking with her for several candidates and you won't get paid. Don't worry. Those skills will be valuable and will land you professional, career-changing jobs after college. Local, state and national leaders will know your name because of her and what she instilled in you.
• Follow your dreams. Write down your visions. You will kick yourself later when you see others half-doing what you could do better.
• Travel as often as you can.
• Bigotry and racism will still exist. Sexism will thrive as well. Decide now that you will respond with grace and dignity.
• You will have more good days than bad. Learn from the bad ones. Duplicate the good ones.
• You think boys are gross because they fart, pick their noses and are just plain silly. Well, get used to it. You're going to marry one and give birth to three; so your adult world won't be much different in that regard.
• The memory verses you learn now in Sunday school are not wasted activities. These verses written on your heart will get you through many rough times.
• You will vote for a Black man to become President of the United States - twice. And you will stand on the U.S. Capitol lawn in freezing temperatures with your husband, three sons, and parents to see him sworn in as Commander In Chief.
• You will still love French Fries.
• You will see yourself in your children and you will immediately have a greater appreciation for your parents.
• Speaking of which, try really hard to remember what it feels like to be held in your dad's arms like you are in this picture. Think about how it feels to take a nap with your mom. One day, you'll be helping them get around, carrying things for them and following up on their doctors' orders. The roles will reverse in an extraordinary way. There will be sadness when that day comes, but there will also be immense pride for the lives they've lived and how they've impacted thousands of lives, but none more than yours and your brother's. It will be your honor to help them however you can.
• Finally, this list of birthday advice comes down to this: Eat cake. Celebrate. Laugh. Love.

Love,
me

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