Special Post - It's Your Time

Dear Chelsea -

It's your time.

It seems like just yesterday when you looked up at me with those one year old eyes that seemed to beam, "Trust your dream".

Tonight is your night.

Fast forward eight years, and it again seems like just yesterday when you were fighting for life's vitality, a victim of life's unfortunate circumstances over which you had no control.  It was a day I'll never forget as we rushed a frail 55 pound young girl to Children's Hospital to face the beginning of a lifelong road of shots, tubes, and meters.

I remember several things about that trip.

I remember sleeping in the hospital playroom for the week when the beds were full. 

I remember being promised that I'd be able to first practice giving insulin shots on oranges, before the nurse turned to me on the first night when it was time for your shot and said, "here, why don't you do this." 

At which point, I recall screaming, "Wait, where are the oranges??"  Yet the nurse reminded me why I hate trading simulators as she said, "Look, you're going to have to do this eventually, so now's a good time to start."

Tonight ends an intense four year road of personal sacrifice.

And I also remember the doctor staring you in the face on day one and saying there was nothing that diabetes would prevent you from doing.  Nothing.

There's only one problem with this summary of history ... the word "victim" has never been a part of your vocabulary.  It wasn't then and it isn't now, for you've instead chosen to pursue a life of quiet leadership by example.

As parents, we're supposed to teach our children, be stronger than them, and help point their way during our brief period of stewardship.

Yet you've reversed the order on all three counts.

I wince when I get a splinter.  You've been stuck with needles over 20,000 times and have never complained.

Valedictorian.  Top Gun.  Top Dog.  Numero Uno.  An astounding four-year 4.24 GPA due to the weighting of AP courses & wire-to-wire #1 ranking for SEVEN straight years.

Life often isn't fair.

But tonight, it is.

And while I've said this before, I'll say it again ... you'd make one helluva trader.

Congratulations.