Skip to main content

Did my best

By
J asked me yesterday if I've ever thought about what kind of legacy I want to leave when I die.

No, to be honest, I haven't. Even when Michelle died and my grandpa died I thought plenty about the legacy they were leaving--but not my own.

He said for him he has. He didn't know if he would leave a legacy anywhere--because he moves around so much--but he said the legacy he wants to leave is he just wants people to know he tried to be the best person he could be.

Couple things I want to clarify for him (though in the moment I just nodded, listened and continued eating my burrito)
1. You are remembered. No one has forgotten you. You may feel like they have, but they haven't. I was afraid, just like you were, that maybe someone had. When I took you back to Sunshine to visit friends I was so terribly worried no one would say anything to you. But they did. They remembered. You had left an impact. They hugged you, they showed you pictures, they celebrated your accomplishments, they told you they were proud. They remembered. You left a legacy there and I'm sure other stops along the way too.
2. I can see you trying. I am proud of your trying. I am so glad that we have ended up with this "new and improved" version of yourself that people seem to think we created (that was ALL you.) BUT--I hope when the day comes that we do reflect on the legacy you've left (many, many, quarter-centuries from now) there's so much more to your legacy than "trying." We'll remember you as BEING that amazing man you want to be. That we'll remember not only that you tried but you excelled and you set the standard. That's my hope for you.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My biggest challenge

By
I’m a writer by trade. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I love to put my feelings into words. Yet, in the last month, I’ve been having a very difficult time vocalizing what’s happening in my life. It’s not because it’s been sad or difficult or anything like that. It’s mostly because there is someone new in my life who I care very deeply for who I feel this deep need to protect. I want to protect his identity, his story, his life. I don’t want to overstep any boundaries or crush any trust. I recognize the life he has lived has not been easy and so I tread lightly on this relationship we’ve built. But honestly—it’s a fantastic relationship. He’s an amazing kid. I’ve been asked to write a blog post for an organization that helps recruit foster parents about the first few weeks of being a foster parent. I’m having difficulty deciding what to write. I feel like anything I write about my case probably won’t apply to their case so it’s not very helpful. I keep writing drafts and then...
Post a Comment
Read more

8

By
Kaybree is 8! Why does time go by so quickly? Even Kaybree thinks it went by too fast. Kaybree, you are amazing. You are a natural caretaker to your sisters. They don't always appreciate it but I do. You know just what to do to make Aspen laugh and you have no problem carrying her around. You never complain when she steals your snacks or makes a mess of whatever you were playing with. Just this morning I was sitting outside with Aspen and you came out with a piece of fruit leather you were eating for breakfast. As soon as Aspen saw you she got a huge grin and reached her hand out for your food and without a word, you gave it to her. You love dressing up and doing your hair. You've been letting it grow out for almost a year now and it's half way down your back, bright blonde and carefully brushed every day by you. Your room is spotless 90% of the time, with the exception of when you let Eisley or Aspen play in there and then you stay up all night cleaning it. You a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Careers

By
"So I've got a friend, who I met at Frys. He's an older guy. He's got a car he wants to give me and soon he's starting a business so when I'm 18 and a half or 19 I think I'm going to move out and move in with him and work for him." "Doing what?" "I don't really know but he's going to have this business." "OK. Well, good luck with that. Get it in writing and get a title for the car." I walked away just shaking my head. Silently I thought "At least he didn't tell me he's going to become a rapper. He might as well though... A couple hours later I talked with him again. "OK, so I've been texting him and finding out more about this job." "OK." "So he's going to be a rapper. And he says we'll find something for me to do, something I'm good at. Something that will make me $1,000 a day and I can probably start doing it from home--maybe finding new beats online....
Post a Comment
Read more