In Twenty Years..

-- February 17th, 1993 09:31 AM -- Rachael Ann Pishtek -- 6 lbs 7 oz 20 in --

And I was born...exactly twenty years ago.

What have I done? 

Since the moment I was born, I was taught how to love.  At approximately 9:40 on that fateful morning, I was placed in the arms of my adoptive mother, who looked with her brown eyes into mine. I've never asked her what she thought right away as she held me, but I can't even imagine.  I'm sure she was nervous, scared, happy, overwhelmed, exhausted, full of love for her new baby. 

At around 10 AM I met my blue eyed, moustache clad, big nosed, best friend: My dad.  After seeing him front row at my high school graduation ceremony wearing sunglasses to mask his bloodshot, crying eyes, I can only imagine what was going through his head the moment he saw his brownish, curly haired kid, fresh and new.

My parents have been my greatest influences in my life, my best friends, my keepers.  They have inspired me to want great thinks.  Since I was a child, the formula of : 50% Hard work + 50% Faith + A pinch of humor = Success, has been ingrained in my mind.  

I learned the love of athletics and film from my father.  I remember being a kid and knowing more baseball lingo than any of the ten+ boys in my grade.  Yes, I was that girl. Ten years old, wad of gum in her mouth, skinned knees and tanned shoulders telling the, "chump on first to get the lard out of his pants and hustle," as all my girlfriends played Barbies in right field. 

I remember staying up late with my dad on nights that my mom would come home from a twelve hour shift in the ER watching Jay Leno.  When I was around seven I was obsessed with finding out how I acted as a toddler. "Dad?", I would say, "What was my first word?" He would laugh at me and say, "Your first word was 'Jay Leno'!" .....It wasn't actually.  But anyway, I'd sit up late in my blanket fort with my dad and watch Jay's monologue.  During this time my dad would often take on the role as "Ticklemonster." Eventually, I would see the headlights of my mom's Honda roll down the driveway and I would excitedly hide behind the couch.  When my tired, hardworking mom would walk in, I would jump up and exclaim, "Welcome Home, Mommy!", and hug her.  Those were the best nights.

My mom taught me how to be faithful and my love for music/  She answered a lot of my questions about Christianity and Jesus, even though I was an incorrigible child who had thousands of questions, especially about these topics, she had patience and listened to every single one.  I remember being outside in the sun with my mom, helping her garden or on the back of her bike and going down our gravel driveway.  l love my mom.

As I grow older I learn to appreciate my parents more and more and will continue to in the future. 

In the next twenty years I want to learn how to love. I mean, really truly, completely love everyone around me.  I want to smile so hard that a person five blocks away from me will see my pearly whites.

I want to laugh until I cry at least once a week.

I want to eat, and I mean REALLY eat like there is no tomorrow.  I want to be healthy, but I don't want to count calories constantly. I want chocolate, pasta, cheese, so much cheese.

I want perfect nails.  Not the constantly manicured nails, but nails that are always the perfect color or bare and display the hard physical labor I've done.

I want to read more.  The stories of others as well as imaginary stories of captivating characters. I was always told the more I read, the smarter I will become..and in my next twenty years I should be smarter than the first, right?

I want to enjoy being a girl.  I want to be wrapped in pretty scarves, diamonds  and pearls.  I want to flirt and giggle and be brave.  I want to sing at the top of my lungs on long car trips to Chicago while wearing pink and purple.

I want to have faith in the Lord. Faith that I have been missing for too long.  I want to hold on to it, run with it and see where it takes me. For the Lord knows the plans that he has for me, plans for a future and hope. Jer 29:11.

I want to fall in love with Rachael Pishtek.  Every last curl, every last tear, and every single cup of coffee on the way, I want to love her unconditionally. No matter the size, shape or path.  I will love her.

The only way I can live a successful next twenty years is through learning and appreciating my first.

Two dimes.