Friends Forever?

Gabrielle,

Who will be your friends when you are 20? Friends are an important part of life. But, I have found with a few exceptions you will have two or three different cycles of friends by 20. Then you will have different and new friends as your life changes. You, especially YOU, will always have friends. In fact, the more different friends you have the more interesting things you will experience.

I know you don't believe me now but it will. Remember, no matter how big of a fit you throw I will love you unconditionally.

Love,
Dad

The importance of Now

Gabrielle,
I know that at 10, your future is what you want to do next weekend. That is the way it is when you are a kid. So when I don't let you do something that would really be fun you will hate me... For a couple days.

In the next couple years you will start planning ahead a little more and when you are not allowed to do something you will hate me for a couple of weeks. And this geometric progression will continue and finally peak at 18.

Don't tell me this won't happen because it will and it is starting now. Just remember I'm planning your calendar too. While you are planning blocks of weekends at the most I'm planning blocks of years so you will not make the mistakes I did. You will have time to make your own mistakes and learn from them.

I love you unconditionally so you will never be able to throw a big enough fit to change that. The ultimate payback for me is around 25 we will be friends again and will from that point on. It will be a lifetime for you but a couple election cycles for me.

Love,
Dad