Dear 18-year-old Daisy,

I know you don’t want to hear what I have to say, but listen up!  Life will be what you make it, here’s your chance to cowgirl up and take the reigns.

You’re about to experience your first and worst heart break of your life, expect a letter not a reason.  It’ll be fine, you’ll learn to forgive, but you will never forget.   Guess what, you will look back and realize that this was one of the best things that could have happened to you.  In a few years, you will fall in love with the man you will marry when you least expect it. 

College won’t seem important to you now, trust me, eventually it will be.   You will find your groove and the right time and the right reason to go to school.  In the meantime…enjoy life.  Work isn’t life.

There are things that I wish people would have told me, actually, that I wish I would have listened to when I was 18.  Live life like you will never get a day back.  Enjoy your friends and family because they will move away or leave the earth sooner than you think they will.  Laugh alot.

Learn from your mistakes and take risks.  Love with all of your heart and live from the inside of your soul.  Give to others and be thankful for the things you have and the people that love you.

Never be afraid to ask for advice.

Your friend,

30-year old Daisy

People do stupid things and bodily functions happen.  According to a news report, battery charges against alleged West Virginia fart monster Jose Cruz were dropped. 

He was quoted as saying, ”I couldn’t hold it no more.”

He was accused of passing gas and fanning it toward a police officer.  The prosecutor’s office requested that the battery charge be dropped against 34-year-old.  How bad did it smell that it caused an officer to charge him with battery?  Is there a smell-o-meter that measured the toxic emissions of his fart?

According to a criminal complaint, Cruz passed gas and made a fanning motion toward patrolman T.E. Parsons after being taken to the police station for a breathalyzer test. Cruz denies fanning the gas and says his request to use a restroom when first arriving at the station was denied.”

Battery charges…really?  Maybe assault with a silent but deadly weapon, but battery?

I’m beginning to wonder if there is such a thing as a fairy tale wedding.  A young girl is swept off her feet by her magical prince charming, they fall in love, get married, and then live happily ever after in wedded marital bliss and make many offspring.

The closest example I have are my parents, married for 30 years – I know its been great but it hasn’t been perfect.  Are there any PERFECT marriages?  With the divorce rate skyrocketing every year – do you ever wonder why we get married at all?

Maybe we just be eternally dating or “committed” (ha! maybe we all are crazy).  My husband and I recently celebrated our 7th year wedding anniversary.  I have to tell you that we have been on some rocky roads but we work through it.   Seven years ago I would not have imagined that we are still struggling financially or still hoping for children.  I guess we all look for the happily ever after but know that reality will swoop in and bring us out of our dreams.   Or deep down we know that life is a challenge and we can dream of the best of life’s offers while know that it will be the speed bumps that will really determine the value of the good things life has to give.  

One other part about being married that I have difficulty grasping is duration of time.  It feels like we’re newlyweds but like we’ve known each other forever.   He is my best friend.  He knows me better than anyone on this planet – how to make me laugh, what I like and don’t, where I’m ticklish, and what to do to aggravate me (I’m not too fond of the last one).  He can tell my mood by how I walk in the door or by the sound of my voice.  He can understand what I’m saying when I glance into his eyes without speaking any words. 

Does our ‘happily ever after’ just depend on our definition of happy?  The best part about waking up every morning is knowing he is there to love me for who I am and I have him to love. 

Did you find your fairy tale?