My parents are amazing people. The word “amazing” gets overused, but the adjective suits them nicely. They gifted my brothers and me with enviable childhoods. There was food and laughter and discipline and dancing rainbows in the kitchen. They took us to interesting places like the beach and the mountains and the Alamo and the Rockies stadium. They taught us how to throw baseballs and ride bikes. How to be polite and eat green beans even if you don’t like them. They gave us standards to meet and a safe place to land. They gave me a wedding and a place to do laundry when our first apartment had no washer. Now they are gifting my baby with a loving second home, a place where he smiles when he is carried in the door because he is so happy to see his Ellie and Pappy.
Our original family of six has grown into a family with eight adults and one baby, and mom and dad are still giving to us. So tonight, the nine of us are gathering to celebrate the two people who made this life of ours possible. Pretty amazing.
Caroline Mitchell Carrico 