As I mentioned yesterday my daughter, Chelsea, got married last week in Seattle. She went to high school with her husband, Michael, but they didn’t date. He was in the drama department with her and most of her friends. I didn’t know Michael back then, but I did hear his name now and then.
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| Michael |
As a matter of fact, her first boyfriend, Landon, was one of his best friends. I knew Landon to be a funny, goofy actor with a great heart. He had a fantastic comedic edge, always quick to say something really funny. He was a Groomsman.
Her best friend, Delindy, was a Bridesmaid. I knew her through our church, where she was a ‘PK’ (pastor’s kid). She was also funny and a bit sarcastic. She constantly had to live with the pressure of being the daughter of the Pastor.
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| Delindy and Landon |
My oldest daughter, Rebekah, was Maid of Honor. She had to suffer through a number of years of Chelsea wanting to do everything she did, copying her and making her crazy.
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| Rebekah |
My youngest daughter, Caitlin, was also a Bridesmaid. She came into my life at age 13 when I started dating her mother, Linda. She had to cope with 3 new, older step-sisters, a new husband for her mother, as well as the high school cheerleading world.
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| Caitlin |
And of course there is Chelsea, the Bride. She was the youngest daughter all the way through the end of high school. The pressure to follow two very smart and very creative sisters through the school system was intense at times. She was shy as she grew but found her voice little by little until in high school she was her own person.
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| Chelsea and me |
These were the people I drew my napkins for, among others. I saw these young people go through their adolescence and I remember this: None of them were mature. None of them knew what hit them. None of them figured it out easily.
Adolescence wasn’t always fun. There was great drama. There was great emotional confusion. There were great ups and down. To be sure, at least in my house, there was fantastic fun and joy and growth as well. But make no mistake, it WAS a rocky ship they were in at times.
And now? Now they are wonderful adults, every one of them. I love them so dearly when I see them coming into their own.
Landon still the same fun and quick witted person. But more importantly, he is a good husband and father of 2 now. I couldn’t be prouder of him.
Delindy just graduated from University of Oklahoma. But more importantly, she struggled mightily to decipher who she is in the world, and is succeeding at it. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Rebekah is a Ph.D. candidate in Neuroscience. She is a genius no doubt. But more importantly, she is an unbelievably wonderful enthusiast and curious pursuer of all things fun and creative. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Caitlin is now a Senior in college. She’s on the Dean’s list and is a hard worker. but more importantly, she has grown into being strong and confident in the social and academic world. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Chelsea learns and adapts like know one else. But more importantly, she has never stopped with her enthusiasm for love, music, travel and friendship. She is growing and learning by leaps and bounds. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by me. It is a variation on one by Arthur Koestler.