Dec_29_04

Typed Text From Journal Page:

12/29/04

A tsunami off the coast of Sumatra sent waves crashing as far as Africa to the east and Malaysia to the west, across Sri Lanka and Indonesia, India, Thailand, Myanmar.

Estimates of 100,000 dead haunt the news.  The images of the devastated people grip my heart as I think of my own.  Emma, we are struggling.  You are a strong willed child, and I find nothing wrong with that spirit.  What I find destructive is your seeming selfishness and volatile behaviour as a result.  I read the headlines and see the broken faces and wonder if you will ever get it.

Brandon, my fears for you are that life is so much more than you act it to be.  You sit around too much.  There is much that you want, but you don’t do anything to get it.  E.G. have you finished SCUBA?…No! I give you too much space.  I give both of you too many choices and too much room to make mistakes.  I have mistaken that space for room to spread your wings.  It has instead given you room to lose your balance – as you reach to hold the wall it is too far from your reach.  I need to bring those walls back in.  I need to keep you focused.  I need to remind you I still call the shots.  I will never take away your senses of individuality and freedom, but something is not right and I need to fix whatever that is.

For beginners:

Brandon, you will write a musical piece for the current events in Asia.

Emma, you will write the lyrics.

Love, Momma
12:39 a.m.

Brandon – You’re at Trevors
Emma – You’re w/dad.
I’m in bed thinking of you both.