I’m sure it’s natural to be scared your daughter will end up being a stripper. My girl has this… can’t-back-down. Defy expectations. She gets it from me. Pierced nipples. Pre-Fad blue hair. First to jump off a bridge or run through town naked. Damn twenties.

It extends to this super boundaryless acceptance of people without expectation. I absolutely got raped because of it. Unguarded? Openness? It’s a good teacher skill though.

I asked my son: how many times do you forgive someone? He said: forever. Listening to Jesus I see.

Me: What if they total your car? Him: Once. Me: Your dad has totaled our cars three times. Him: Four times.

Huh. 

See, I can’t back down. Once I think about forgiving someone, I decide I should. It’s the right thing to do. Then I really try to. No matter how ridiculous. 

After I was raped, I invited the guy on a road trip. I even told my parents I was going to marry him. I think maybe… it took away the pain. Luckily I woke up and told him to go home. I paid for his train ticket though.