jesse nicknamed her “the saint”

I can't believe my darling girl graduated from high school this week. I cried when I dropped her off in Switzerland two years ago. Then on Sunday, after three glorious days of prom-preparation, family banquet for 400 and the graduation ceremony with a live orchestra, and I cried going down the hill of Collina d'ora one last time.

Thank you State Department for supporting her education in such a sweet spot where she could complete that two year IB without a traumatic move in the middle of the two year program. Thank you TASIS for creating a lovely environment where she could live and breathe and drink clean water and pull on her uniform and show up to class five minutes later. However, I'm still mad at you Mexican Club for letting her eat a super hot pepper on International Day. She still hasn't recovered. 

Thank you San Diego State University for taking her even with her math grades. She has so much to look forward to, and so much to look out for. I was the person who cut up her hot dogs in tiny bites to put on her high chair tray and loved having her sleep in my arms. If anybody takes advantage of that dear, sweet person, it won't be the first time someone mean did such a thing. I only hope that she has the strength and where-with-all to call them on it, like she does when her brother needs a shower.

I hope a childhood in San Francisco-Portland-Niger-Moscow-Bucharest-Switzerland wasn't a mistake, but has been a path around the world that has taught her about a few of the problems and has inspired her to learn how to make some changes. Living in those places has contributed to the beauty and kindness that make her who she is. She knows the best place in the world to get your brows done, and why bathrooms in schools are the most important factor when it comes to educating girls. 

My empathetic child-of-world, who wants to go to MIlan to shoe shop, go forth and continue to be the amazing person you are. We need your light. Shine on.