Fifteen Years Ago

I was looking through old blog posts today and came across this one from 15 years ago. My daughter was 17 when she wrote these words. Today she's 32. Some memories never fade. They just become more precious with time. My seventeen year old daughter texted this to me the other day.
Daughter: Are you okay? I wanted to talk to you this morning, but I left.
Me: Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking a little more than I probably should this morning. Daughter: You can make a good life for yourself, even if you just make baby steps. You could be a photographer and charge for pictures! You can make yourself successful! You're an awesome Make-up artist and people want you to work for them when we always go look at make-up.You can do what you love and not look at it as 'work'. Not everything is hard. It's only hard if you make it hard. I know you have been through so much this past year, but please Mom, you have to be strong. I know what he's offering is very tempting. It's even tempting to me. But I don't want to go back. Nothing is going to make this situation better. If you DID write a book, the book would be amazing. Because your life has been amazing. And you're a beautiful, wise woman.You don't have to rely on a man for money, Mom. If we work together, my little brother will have a great life here in America. It's possible. Mom, you can have a good life here in America! You just have you want it. I know you know what you want. Don't be scared. Conquer your fears.. Just do it.

final whisper: The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.