Just Thinking

Just Thinking
Last night a violent storm ran through Sioux Falls with a couple of tornado sirens. Dianna called once or twice; it was not quite the same. She and I used to stand on the deck and watch developing fronts. Her excitement would become almost electrical (pardon the pun) as we watched the lightning. Time passes. Life changes. Soon Dianna will graduate from USF to join a long line of Anderson graduates. A firm foundation for the future comes with the diploma; however, a foundation is only that. It is a beginning, a start, a commencement (pun intended) for something called life. It takes so much more than a college diploma to be successful. Now a graduate degree has gone past highly recommended to absolutely necessary. Learn more. Accomplish more. Add more to the already growing academic prowess. Baylor has been chosen for this next step and has graciously accepted the challenge. They will be getting one of the best. They already have two of the best of which I am very proud. Because I am a mother, there is a sense I have which others do not possess. I sense that Dianna does not always feel up to the task; I see her eyes cloud over momentarily. The control and confidence return, and the eyes fill with the sureness of a female in charge of her life. At these changes in life, it is often difficult to maintain the equilibrium of positivity. It is normal (oh, how I dislike that word) to feel this way. What is needed? What can be done? Be yourself is the only answer that this humble (?) mother can give. Being yourself will give strength, happiness, and peace. Then when another time like this comes again (and it will), you will know how to rediscover strength, happiness, and peace.