When I got home from work today, I wrapped my arms around my daughter and hugged her a little tighter, a little longer, because that is what we need today.
Once freed, she skipped over to her backpack to pull out a special art project. She proudly showed me a picture. I asked who it was and she announced “S and I”. S is her best friend, he is her sunshine. S left Albania nearly a year ago, but hasn’t left her mind or heart. We always talk about planning a trip to visit them in their new home in Germany, I think I will now.
Kids are like that. Right and wrong is black and white. Friendship is easy. Forgiveness easy too. Laughter comes when you need it. Hugs and band-aids can heal most things. But memory is long.
She sang to herself as I asked questions about the picture and what she hopes for in the world. She likes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s phrase and repeats it often: love is love is love is love. I am so proud of how fiercely she loves and deeply she remembers.
Musings from inside, outside, and underneath 
[…] We talk about friends that we stay friends with and think about even after the are gone (see the earlier post on S for reference). And, we talk about the friends that are the family we choose. A&O are our family and we […]