"Yes, Ma'am"

Jake and I were cuddled up, preparing for take-off, watching the young girl sitting in the window seat with her legs shaking and her hands twisting a piece of thread over her fingers.  Jake was worried about her and suggested I talk to her during take-off.  

I don't know her name, but she is headed home to Houston (pronounced yu-stun) for Winter Break from BYU-I.  She just finished her first semester in Psychology and wants to specialize in criminal psychology.  But really, she wants to be a stay at home mom.  

We visited for the majority of the flight, talking about school, careers, the horrendous crimes in the U.S., boys and their games, and dating.  She was a good conversationalist.  The thing is, every time I asked her a question or when she agreed with me she said "Yes, Ma'am."  The whole time.  I really thought I identified with her and we were basically friends but Jake doesn't agree.

Jake thinks my new friend doesn't think we are friends.  He thinks that she thinks that I'm just the "wife and mom" lady.  He helped me think back to when I was her age and what I thought of someone who was the age I am now and the stage of life I am in now.  He's right (don't tell him I said that) but when I heard their stories, even if they were similar to what I was doing, my brain was sure they didn't understand what life was like for me.  I liked their stories and I wanted to be like them and have what they had.  But they were "old" and did what I was doing "a long time ago."

I got my butt handed to me.  I swear I jumped like 15 years by getting married.  At least half of that is courtesy of Noah.

Harsh?  I agree.  24 hours ago I thought I identified with 19 year old girls.  

You probably thought that by harsh I meant the 15 year remark and even throwing Noah's name in to the mess.  But, I didn't.  By harsh I mean .... Today, I may not be exactly who I thought I was ..... 11 years ago.

Good luck with your life, you little young thing.  Have fun at school.  Don't worry about dating.  Keep your standards high, like you have, and keep your kisses for the right boy(s).  Go to institute.  Find work you love and enjoy it.  Time will bring the blessings you are waiting for.  In the mean time, you'll have experiences that will mold you.  You're not waiting for happiness and you're not waiting for the next stage of your life.  You are who you are and there is happiness to be discovered every day.  Don't wait to be someone else.  Don't wait for the next stage of your life.  Prepare for it, but shouldn't we prepare for the next step no matter where we are in life?  Enjoy where you are now.  Be good.  Be happy.