For You

You know it's monday when you're already late and you have to scrape the windows of your car because they're all iced up. After that you get in the vehicle, wonder why you still can't see  a damn thing, and remember: right, you didn't scrape the insides of the windows yet.

Some of you may know what time it is (no, it's not time to get buckwild. Flavor Flav!)

I'd like to do something different this time. I'd like to dedicate this day to someone else who I think deserves it.

To Mom & Dad:

Thank you. Mom and Dad, for the wonderful job you've done. I'd like to thank you for your excellent parenting abilities. Especially during the first years, when I was helpless and totally dependent of you. It's not always a given thing that parents don't harm their children by acting stupid, or just by not being able to even take care of themselves. So thank you for being the responsible parents that you were, and still are, and not ever abandoning any of us or doing us any harm. Thank you for the games, the times we played. For all the chocolate monster-cakes, parties and times when we could bring a million other five-year-olds home to play with us.
Dad, thanks for teaching me how to swim and having the sense to channel my energy into this hobby. It's given me countless years of joy, and an understanding of meditative sport. Thanks for all the times both you and Mom came to see me compete, where ever in the country that may have been. Thanks for sending me abroad to do the same thing by myself. For the encouragement.

To you both, for always forcing us to do our homework, I finally see the point in it all. For all the family-dinners you insisted we'd all share. For all the rules, for forbidding me to do so many things. Thus giving me the feel of excitment doing all these forbidden things.

For not letting me pierce my face or get a tattoo as a minor. And for not hating any of my boyfriends. There was never anything to hate, but you guys know how it is. For caving in when it was crucial, and for always being there for us. For disapproving of my Major Plans For Life, an thus teaching me to always come prepared with lots more than a vision.

Thanks Dad, for being the Voice Of Reason.
Thanks Mom, for the hugs and for telling me it's okay to not always listen to the Voice Of Reason.

And to all you others, to make this not just a post for my parents, I'd like to encourage you to check out Joni's hilarious plan for how to use Ben&Jerry in babe hunting.

P.S. Lies you can let go now. I passed!