It shouldn't be this way, but it was through tragedy that I truly appreciated how incredible family is. My mother's best friend lost her daughter last week in an accident and it was a true blessing to see her family and friends surrounding her in her darkest hour.
It took me back to a moment on our way home from Brazil last summer. An overnight flight from Rio or Houston gives one time to do a number of things... I did a lot of thinking. It occurred to me on a separate note that a number of my friends have dealt with the possibility of losing one or both of their parents. As this thought washed over my brain I looked over at my own parents, my mom sleeping on my dad's shoulder and I could feel the tears well up. They were right there and I had never felt so grateful. I never imagined what it could be like for them if the situation were reversed.
My parents are superheroes and if I'm even a fraction of the parent they are, I'm lucky. My dad, as he likes to remind us, came to this country at 21 with nothing and worked in the university cafeteria for food. He was in a band, taught himself the guitar, piano, and a little french. Now he changes the world with every step he takes. They don't make em like my dad anymore. No one can keep up with him... except for my mom.
When they wrote saying "behind ever great man, there is a great woman", I'm almost positive they were talking about my mother. At 20 she married a man who lived a half a world away, came to the US to find that her darling husband lived in a studio apartment with nothing but a mattress, a tv, and his guitar in it. I look around at the home she has created for us now and we have come a long way. She is my best friend. I don't get a chance to pretend with her, she already knows lol. As a teen that was a little frustrating but these days it's nice not to have to hide from her. I remember the most absurd fight I had with her was over the fact that I had a boring life because i never fought with my parents lol. Don't get it twisted, it wasn't that I was never in trouble. In my house the general philosophy was "don't be stupid." So when I sabotaged myself in school, they made sure that I knew it wasn't acceptable to be anything less than what I was truly capable of. And as annoyed as I was, I knew they were right.
My brothers have spoiled me with the kind of men they have become. My big brother is my sage, always pushing me and telling me that I am on the brink of realizing my own greatness. His path in life inspires me to be great, and "the good child" always reminds me that we're only human, but never to settle for less than amazing. My little brother never ceases to amaze me with his perfect blend of insanity and maturity. His handle on the gravity of the world around him is astounding and I couldn't be prouder of him.
My sister in law is brilliant. Period. She is the best definition of geek chic and I wouldn't have it any other way. She'll be debating the weight of calories and in the same breath discuss the latest trend in blush and transition seamlessly between both topics with a flip of her expertly coiffed hair. I'm so glad I picked her to be my brother's wife ;).
It would be unfair to leave out my army of cousins, who have been my best friends my whole life. No matter how far apart we are, whether 20 minutes away in the Woodlands, a few thousand miles away in California, or scattered all over the world, we always manage to stay connected. Spectators can't believe how close we all are... yeah, I'd be jealous of us too.
And then there are my friends. Moving around, it was easier to stay cordial but detached from people, but then I caved. I covet the relationships I've made over the years. The best ones are effortless, and I feel like I never have to try to be something for any one of my friends because they know that 1) I'm too lazy to be anyone but myself and 2) I don't ever want them to feel like they can't be themselves with me. Childhood friends from California and Ohio have got the goods on the incredibly awkward stages of my life, and my Texas friends have been there at the most insane part of my development as a person, where I decided who I wanted to be, instead of who I thought I was supposed to be.
Each person has been a witness to my life and I a witness to theirs. I am floored by the amazing people that surround me. They are my absolute favorites.
<3 Saira
It took me back to a moment on our way home from Brazil last summer. An overnight flight from Rio or Houston gives one time to do a number of things... I did a lot of thinking. It occurred to me on a separate note that a number of my friends have dealt with the possibility of losing one or both of their parents. As this thought washed over my brain I looked over at my own parents, my mom sleeping on my dad's shoulder and I could feel the tears well up. They were right there and I had never felt so grateful. I never imagined what it could be like for them if the situation were reversed.
My parents are superheroes and if I'm even a fraction of the parent they are, I'm lucky. My dad, as he likes to remind us, came to this country at 21 with nothing and worked in the university cafeteria for food. He was in a band, taught himself the guitar, piano, and a little french. Now he changes the world with every step he takes. They don't make em like my dad anymore. No one can keep up with him... except for my mom.
When they wrote saying "behind ever great man, there is a great woman", I'm almost positive they were talking about my mother. At 20 she married a man who lived a half a world away, came to the US to find that her darling husband lived in a studio apartment with nothing but a mattress, a tv, and his guitar in it. I look around at the home she has created for us now and we have come a long way. She is my best friend. I don't get a chance to pretend with her, she already knows lol. As a teen that was a little frustrating but these days it's nice not to have to hide from her. I remember the most absurd fight I had with her was over the fact that I had a boring life because i never fought with my parents lol. Don't get it twisted, it wasn't that I was never in trouble. In my house the general philosophy was "don't be stupid." So when I sabotaged myself in school, they made sure that I knew it wasn't acceptable to be anything less than what I was truly capable of. And as annoyed as I was, I knew they were right.
My brothers have spoiled me with the kind of men they have become. My big brother is my sage, always pushing me and telling me that I am on the brink of realizing my own greatness. His path in life inspires me to be great, and "the good child" always reminds me that we're only human, but never to settle for less than amazing. My little brother never ceases to amaze me with his perfect blend of insanity and maturity. His handle on the gravity of the world around him is astounding and I couldn't be prouder of him.
My sister in law is brilliant. Period. She is the best definition of geek chic and I wouldn't have it any other way. She'll be debating the weight of calories and in the same breath discuss the latest trend in blush and transition seamlessly between both topics with a flip of her expertly coiffed hair. I'm so glad I picked her to be my brother's wife ;).
It would be unfair to leave out my army of cousins, who have been my best friends my whole life. No matter how far apart we are, whether 20 minutes away in the Woodlands, a few thousand miles away in California, or scattered all over the world, we always manage to stay connected. Spectators can't believe how close we all are... yeah, I'd be jealous of us too.
And then there are my friends. Moving around, it was easier to stay cordial but detached from people, but then I caved. I covet the relationships I've made over the years. The best ones are effortless, and I feel like I never have to try to be something for any one of my friends because they know that 1) I'm too lazy to be anyone but myself and 2) I don't ever want them to feel like they can't be themselves with me. Childhood friends from California and Ohio have got the goods on the incredibly awkward stages of my life, and my Texas friends have been there at the most insane part of my development as a person, where I decided who I wanted to be, instead of who I thought I was supposed to be.
Each person has been a witness to my life and I a witness to theirs. I am floored by the amazing people that surround me. They are my absolute favorites.
<3 Saira
