When you were young

It's been 35 years now, to the day,

since you were born, wrenched into

this world, perhaps unwillingly, but 

soon out to overcome all obstacles,

large and small.

Some failures, the baby sister who

would not go away,

other successes, beating the big kids

at cards at the YMCA summer camp.

Jobs come and go, always seeking the

place where people were smarter,

steep, rocky canyons to dirt bike

and impossibly steep ski slopes.

Why not cross the Sahara Desert

by yourself when you're 18.

As your mother, I look the other way

and hope for the best.

So far, so good.