Links....at last.

Thanks to goodwill from Susie and coaching (and goodwill) from Aaron, I present to you: links you can see! Am I the only one excited here?? *sigh* Well, alright...I'm excited enough for all of us!

Which brings me to my first story attempt.

2004
The phone call came just like you see in movies. She had just toweled off and was heading for that oh-so-satisfying 1st cup of coffee when the shrill ring ripped through the early morning silence. "Good morning," she chirped into the receiver. And in that one moment, her world shifted 45 degrees forever. It was her mother. No. It was the shuddering, sobbing, liquid shell of her mother, stammering out the sudden news that her father was dead.

1980
Dear Boozle,
What can I say to you that will be wise enough to stand the coming years, large enough to carry my love for you, and mesmerizing enough to captivate your attention? I have watched you from the moment you were born, cheered your victories and soothed your defeats, and I see you now on the brink of becoming a woman. How is it possible? There may come a time, God forbid, that you will face this world without me. I know you are strong enough, smart enough and brave enough to succeed. But I wonder if you know you are. And I wonder, as your dad, how I can help you to learn it, and embrace it as truth. For of all the gifts I could give you, none will be as useful to you as confidence. Confidence in all that you are and all you can be and do; confidence in the love that surrounds you; confidence that mankind is worth the trouble they will cause you; and confidence that a larger purpose exists to justify your efforts. You'll need confidence that day follows night, that truth ultimately wins, that kindness is always preferable to judgment, that losing a battle is not always defeat. This is the confidence, the security I would give you if it were something I could wrap. But all I can do is keep watching you as you grow, guiding you when possible, and loving you beyond all ability to communicate. So I shall..., and I believe it is enough. Just as you are.
With all my heart and soul,
Dad

2005
The phone jarred her out of a reverie. "Hey Sis," said her brother, jovial tone determinedly in place. "Hey yourself. What's up?" she asked. He had called to firm up plans for the one year anniversary. One whole year into a life she never wanted to discover: a life where her dad didn't play an active role. But one year into it, wouldn't you know? Day followed night, littler people provided a larger purpose, and love continued to surround her.