You know those kids at the swimming pool who are complete strangers to you but who keep telling you to "Look at me!" or "Watch me!" or who ask you "See what I can do?" As a young mother, I would be playing in the water with my kids, and these random kids would come up and pepper me with the need for attention. I would look around for their parents, and I would usually find them talking to other adults on the side, or immersed in a book in their pool chair. My heart always went out to those children who just wanted someone to acknowledge their mediocre somersault, or who wanted to dive for pennies with my own children but who couldn't even put their faces in the water. They would join our games whether or not invited, and it was all good.
I have spent my life as a virtual neglected pool kid. I haven't had parents or siblings or extended family to notice me and what I do with my life. My own children have grown up without active grandparents. I have been sitting around the pool of life, hoping that I could catch the attention of someone, for my children's benefit and for mine. Thankfully, I have been given some very good people who have become lifelong friends and who have filled the gap of not having family around.
And I've had Facebook. I know a lot of people disparage social media nowadays, but for those of us who don't have the families and parents and cousins to build us up and notice us, Facebook provides a means for us to get some recognition for the small things we do from a loving circle of people. Those "likes" and "comments" mean a whole heck of a lot to us who don't get a lot of likes and comments in real life.
My friend, Sarah, has been my friend for 20 years now. Our lives have remained intertwined despite physical distance separating us. When I think about celebrating anything for my kids, my first thought is "Oh, the Morans. We have to invite the Morans." They are the family we choose to have. She wrote the most beautiful blog post about me today, and I have spent the morning, deep in thought about many of the things she wrote. I would like to say that she embellished the stories about me, but they are all true. She probably knows me better than anyone (aside from my husband and children). In other words, she's that parent in the water who sees me and invites me to play along with her in her world. She recognizes that I need to be seen when others are ignoring me, and for that I am so thankful.
I love you, Sarah <3
I love you Larisa. Thanks for being a light in my life.
ReplyDelete