What I Didn't Expect

I had hoped my baby would be healthy.

We didn't know she was a girl until she appeared in the world 18 years ago. Healthy.

I had hoped she would have all functioning parts.

She did.

I had hoped she would have a good functioning brain. 

I feared the retardation my brother has.

She had good function.

Once all the parts were here and worked, I hoped she would like to learn and love to read. She did.

Once I realized how much she loved school, I expected she would graduate high school.

She did.

I expected good grades. She got them.

I hoped she would make it through sober, intact, emotionally healthy.

She did.

What I didn't expect is the friendships.

I hoped she would make the kind of enduring, necessary, epic friendships that I have, that have kept me alive at various lows.

She has them.

Such close friends. Friendships that are nearly decades old now. Already. Whew.

Love. Laughter. Expectations. Limits.

I didn't expect it. But she has them.

Well done sweet girl...