In approximately 21 minutes (at the time this writing began) my one and only child, Dalin, will turn 21. That's 21 minutes in Minnesota, Fertile, MN to be exact. I live in CA, she was born in CA, so technically I think it's 2 hours and 21 (19 now) minutes.....
I've contemplated this "rite of passage" and how it is observed in American culture. It means one thing and one thing only you can "legally" buy booze... At 18 men register for the draft and all people become "legal adults" responsible for their own affairs. No longer under the care and "control" of a parent. At 16 we get our driver's licences. Seems like our culture may have it's priorities askew, perhaps emphasizing these events as "rites" or rights if you will, which should clearly be privileges and honors...
Something always triggers a "dad' fact or memory for me and the draft mentioned above reminds me that at age 17 my dad lied about his age so he could enlist and go off to fight in the "greatest war that ever was" (so say the historians)....I think my dad might agree with me today that the greatest war that ever was is happening now. It's the war we are loosing in raising our children with morals and values that seem archaic, antiquated and otherwise useless in today's world simply because we don't take the time to practice them ourselves. We can't teach that which we do not know but how did I/We forget what our parents taught us? I have to believe if there is any hope at all for society it's not forgotten, it's just been on hold for 40 years and it's time to kick it into high gear...
I guess my daughters "rite of passage" makes me think about what I was doing on my 21st birthday. I was carrying her, not in my arms but in my belly. I was NOT out celebrating in typical American fashion that's for sure. But don't worry I made up for that in my 30's... Four months and 12 days after I turned 21 I gave birth to the most beautiful human being I've ever had the privilege of loving. I don't think I failed her but not "practicing" the values my parents instilled within me, because through God's perfect Grace she turned out pretty amazing and that is not something I take credit for but something I was honored to participate in...
Another rite of passage I suppose, the realization that now, I really get the change to sit back, enjoy what God created, what I've been allowed to have a front row seat in observing, give my two cents every now and them, falling in love with the most perfect human being to ever walk the face of the earth... Two minutes (MN time) til she's 21...
Happy Birthday Dalin....You are the love of my life <3
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