Pioneer Spirit

Rick is my father's best friend, and is, at the very least, far more expressive than my father. He may be one of the most passionate and insightful people I have encountered, and I think he helps my father express his emotions. I was at my dad's house last night and he pulled out a box of papers and asked if I had ever seen the poem Rick wrote about me. I hadn't. He handed me a small piece of yellow legal paper dated 12/29/95.

Sarah

Phil beams
Excited relays...
Sarah's running
Sarah's doing
She's being so
So much
A participant in life
Engaged and engaging
A special sense of right
And humor
And delight

Pioneer spirit
Clear as northern sky

My first thought was one of embarrassment and flattery. It is truly thrilling to be thought of that highly, but I was 14; how much of it really was me? Have I lost some of the better parts of me? I can't say I've ever had someone write anything for me; my exes have usually been short on words and long on action. The part that hit me hardest was the "Doing and being so much" portion; since graduation I have done little but lag under the weight of endless possibilities, and so that was a sort of sting. An "Oh yeah, I remember when I had a clear idea of just wanted I wanted and how I wanted it..." I guess it reminds me of when I was simpler. I dunno. I didn't post it to glorify myself; maybe just to remember.