Dear Mom and Dad,
You guys had a whole lot to do with me coming into this world 26 years a go and since I totally appreciate being here, I think you deserve some thanks.
Do you remember feeding me eggs, waffles, pancakes, muffins, cereal, juice and soy sausage on the morning of my first soccer game, convinced I had to have a big breakfast so I would be ready to take on those other 6 year olds? Remember when I stood in the goalie box the entire game because I was so full that I couldn’t move? Thanks for always getting me game-ready for new challenges (really!).
Do you remember that Christmas when I read every single tag on every single gift as “To Santa, From Nina”, getting more emphatic when you reminded me that I didn’t give him crap and it actually read “To Nina, From Santa”? And then video taping it, while you muffled laughter in the background? Thanks for always humoring me.
Do you remember dropping me off (Mom) and picking me (Dad and Kari) at the airport when I was studying in Italy? I was so ready for that adventure but I wouldn’t have had the guts to do it if I hadn’t had my parents there, cheering me on. Thanks for always being my biggest and best cheerleaders.
Do you remember some difficult decisions I’ve had to make in the past few years? To be honest, some of them I remember with the gravity of the situation at the time, some of them have dulled as years have passed. But with any of those decisions in that challenging season, with all of them, you were all right there. Thank you for always being right there.
Do you remember when I called and told you that I got Luna Bell/got a promotion/got my apartment? You are always the very first people I call. Thank you for always being excited for me.
Thank you for teaching me to think critically, giving me the gift of education, to take the Golden Rule seriously, to love with all my heart and most of all, thank you for telling me time and time again that we are a family and will get through everything together.
Thank you for making every birthday I’ve ever had a very happy one.
Love,
Nina