IT’S A LIFE NOT MADE FOR RELIVING. Jack Kerouac said “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…”

This describes the Little Woman. She truly has a zest for life. She is always late because she always plans more things to do than can be done in the amount of time she has. She is always up for an adventure, a trip, a job, or an activity. She will cook a huge meal if anyone says they are hungry, especially the Baby’s boyfriend (hereinafter known as “Tall Boy”). She will take food to anyone in need, always home made. She still likes to go to Six Flags Over Texas. She will drive to see the College Daughter at the drop of the hat. And she will bring the hat.

She has passed this active gene on to our daughters. The Oldest Daughter is a performer and will go anywhere anytime to perform. She sings, she dances, she is funny and she is beautiful. She is in Utah now. My only fear is some polygamist clan would grab her and keep her. Can you imagine those guys sitting around the community room with multiple wives watching my kid sing and dance? Maybe she could write a musical about Joseph Smith!

The College Daughter has always gone at full speed until she is absolutely out of energy and falls asleep wherever she happens to be. In high school she was in the top ten percent of the class, she was in band, student council, drama, and church. She organized a city wide youth campaign. She is now financial officer of a Christian organization on campus and an intern at her church in women’s ministry.

The Baby is following in their footsteps. This summer she has been to church camp, church mission trip, drum major camp, band camp, student council camp, our vacation, and is now in summer band.

They are all “mad to live”.

My job is to love them. So I do.

I love them madly.