Sandy Supposes....

Acceptance

May 17th Prompt:"Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known." Chuck Palahniuk Share your thoughts about how the people in your life have had an impact on you.

         Ooo, this is like me appearing on a stage awaiting my acceptance of an award and charming everyone with my speech of gratitude. I'd like to thank all the fantastic individuals who contributed to the person you see here today. You know who you are. Without your support I don't know where I'd be. Mere words cannot convey what you mean to me. I am blessed.

         Where do I begin? First I'd like to mention my parents who deigned to both conceive me and then keep me in a manner to which I became accustomed. Not only did they accept the usual parental duties of feeding and housing me, they chose to nurture me. They did not ignore me. They listened. They engaged in conversations with me. They cheered me on. They taught by example and rarely told me ' do as we say not as we do.'

         Both my Mom and my Dad were avid readers and their behaviour did not go unnoticed by me. I imitated this habit and discovered why they did it. They learned. They were entertained. They could and did enjoy books anywhere at any time.Sitting in any chair, they could 'travel' and teleport inexpensively. Books were and still are affordable and accessible.

         I could be considered the experimental model. Not that my parents bemoaned my birth, but I probably lulled them into a honeymoon state of child rearing such that they repeated the process three more times. Yep, they bestowed upon me the unrefundable title of big sister. Anyone who has survived life with siblings knows it's not all hugs and kisses. There are arguments. There are rivalries. There are scuffles.

         Despite the endless teasing and lack of privacy, my siblings did not defeat me. To my amazement, they care about me and vice versa. They keep it real. Never have they flattered me or permitted my head to swell disproportionally. We have an unbreakable bond.

         Looking back on my school years, I can honestly state that most of my teachers were fantastic. They recognized early on that I'd never be a star athlete, or perhaps even a weekend warrior. They did not offer participation awards and I did not covet them. They nurtured my artistic tendencies. They accepted that I was a chatterbox and it was a reflex as much as breathing. When words began to make sense, I ventured into expression via stories.

         My Nanny enthusiastically accepted her role as my first pen pal. She never criticized my terrible scrawl and she replied to all my letters. With her I could experiment with expression and description.

         I'm not going to be all soppy and lovey-dovey, but suffice it to say, my hubby, Paul, has co-habited with me for forty-three years now and I consider him to be my best friend. Sure, I'll admit we've weathered our storms and floated on a few surges. He's a doer and has an uncanny ability to gauge what is needed and then rectify it. We've both learned to give and take. We acted as partners raising our three children. We were a team.

         Ah, those three... How can I express heartache and joy? Being a mother requires nerves of steel and a thick skin. Nobody can break down your defences like a child.I do not regret my momentous decision to embrace motherhood. The ride never ends. I've discovered wells of strength and endurance I never knew were possible. I suppose my kids have caused me to become more vulnerable.

         And then there were grandgiggles... It is an indisputable truth that grandchildren are a reward for permitting your offspring to live. The girls are everything their own parents were and more.Being older is forgivable now. I do not however feel compelled to act my age. I am blessed to experience all life has to offer anew.