I'm in a reflective mood.
Taken by my late aunt on a trip to New Zealand |
Please feel free to stop reading this now if sentimental, personal stuff isn't your thing. I shan't be offended - just as I hope any of you continuing to read this won't be offended by my sudden need to write this down and get it off my chest! Maybe my kids will actually stumble across it one day and take something away from it.
Both of my wonderful daughters have received excellent results in their respective exams this summer. The eldest will now start university next month and the youngest will begin her 'A' levels.
Girls;
You have both worked hard and deserve your achievments so far. You probably won't read this for years (your usual jibe going something like, "Oh Mum's blogging again, lol,") but when you do, know how proud Dad and I are of you. Keep it up and you will go far. Reach for the stars and follow your dreams. I can't promise they will all come true or that life will always be a bed of roses but as you may have heard me say before, 'the only failure in life is a failure to try.' Look at me, as I write this I'm still chasing my dream of publication and the opportunity to share my stories with the world!
It's a daunting yet exciting stage of life isn't it? I've watched them grow and develop from little girls, reliant on us for everything into wonderful independent young ladies ready and able to make their own decisions and follow their chosen paths. The scary thing is it seems to have happened in the blink of an eye! So my message here, for those of you with young children, or expecting babies soon, is this; enjoy every minute, takes loads of photos. Most importantly, make time to do stuff together and build memories that will last a lifetime. It's strange what they remember years later and it doesn't have to be something that costs a fortune. Our kids laugh about camping trips we had ten miles away from where we live and our own sports days we held in the back garden!
31 years ago today my own father died. Struck down with a heart attack at a young age. He didn't even get to see his own children finish school, let alone meet his grandchildren or share in any of their success. Barely a day goes by when I don't feel regret for all the memories we have been denied. Perhaps it's one of the reasons I believe it so important to share as much with our children and families as we can. Time is precious.
The photo above was taken by a dear aunt of mine (Dad's sister), who sadly passed away last year. She loved to travel and experience new things. Spending many happy trips with her husband, and later, when she was widowed, she would often travel alone. This photo she took in 1994 in New Zealand, whilst visitng family as part of a round the world ticket. A strong, independent lady whom I admired very much. I think it is a beautiful photo and echoes my mood perfectly.
Anyway, enough for now, I just wanted to pay tribute to a few special people.