She has the ability to eloquently respond to a question without ever answering it.
By the time you figure out that she never told you want you wanted to know the conversations already moved past.
Or her friends, Laurel rarely visits home alone, takes the dialogue somewhere else and it's hours later before you realize you haven't leaned anything about the child's life.
Or she's already left, Laurel very rarely stays anywhere for too long, especially home, before we have a chance to ask her anything.
Once I finally figured out Laurel's diversionary approach to communication, I began interrupting her responses with immediate questions redirecting her back to the question asked and not what she's talking about.
Laurel's dancing eyes catch mine for a second, she grins and keeps talking.
Everyone hangs on her every word.
I laugh.
She laughs but keeps talking about everything expect what you really want to know.
"Of all the kids, I'm the one actually doing it,"
she delightfully shares in the kitchen just before she leaves.
And she is.
"See the world now! Don't wait until later to do things. When High School's over, take a year or so, see things, figure out what you want to do and learn.
Go to College later if you want.
And I'll be dammed if this Wonder of an old-enough-to-be-killed-for-your-country but can't-drink-until-you're-21, young woman with the guts to want-it-all-now hasn't done it!
And she has a plan!
If it goes anywhere near as perfectly as her launch then in a couple of years she'll be living and working outside of the US and retiring before she's 30!
She's her Mom's daughter with a Gypsy heart, bright blue sparkling eyes that see further than most, thirsts to experience E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. and determination that always finds a way.
Whew Laurel!
I'm too excited to miss you, relishing in each detail of your new life's shared, newest friends, job, house and horses.
Oh yeah!
And we're so damn proud!
Or her friends, Laurel rarely visits home alone, takes the dialogue somewhere else and it's hours later before you realize you haven't leaned anything about the child's life.
Or she's already left, Laurel very rarely stays anywhere for too long, especially home, before we have a chance to ask her anything.
Once I finally figured out Laurel's diversionary approach to communication, I began interrupting her responses with immediate questions redirecting her back to the question asked and not what she's talking about.
Laurel's dancing eyes catch mine for a second, she grins and keeps talking.
Everyone hangs on her every word.
I laugh.
She laughs but keeps talking about everything expect what you really want to know.
"Of all the kids, I'm the one actually doing it,"
she delightfully shares in the kitchen just before she leaves.
And she is.
"See the world now! Don't wait until later to do things. When High School's over, take a year or so, see things, figure out what you want to do and learn.
Go to College later if you want.
And I'll be dammed if this Wonder of an old-enough-to-be-killed-for-your-country but can't-drink-until-you're-21, young woman with the guts to want-it-all-now hasn't done it!
And she has a plan!
If it goes anywhere near as perfectly as her launch then in a couple of years she'll be living and working outside of the US and retiring before she's 30!
She's her Mom's daughter with a Gypsy heart, bright blue sparkling eyes that see further than most, thirsts to experience E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. and determination that always finds a way.
Whew Laurel!
I'm too excited to miss you, relishing in each detail of your new life's shared, newest friends, job, house and horses.
Oh yeah!
And we're so damn proud!
