I must confess: Anniversaries – best and worst

October. A month that I have a love-hate relationship with. There are a few anniversaries – some that make me happy, and others make me a little sad. 

For instance, on the happy end of the scale, early October is a year since my last Gold Coast adventure. At the Gold Coast I stay with a friend who I love dearly. Her and her family, young son included, are very special to me and I love them like family. 

Currently I’m being reminded of my visit every time I go on facebook. The On This Day memories that pop up are mostly the countdown I had going in the days before my flight. The posts and photos in the background of the countdown make me smile. I see my friend’s (now) 6yr old son and his smile while he’s cuddling into me makes me smile and feel the honest love from a young child. 

The memories from times spent with my friend make me smile too. So many things happened during my visit that were some of the best parts of last year. That trip changed parts of my life for the long term…and for the better. 

The end of October however, is a different story. October 30th is my friend, Lucy’s birthday. But she lost her life in 2012. A few months short of turning 19. Cancer took her from this earth far too soon. The anniversary of her birth is a whole lot more sad when she’s no longer here. Every year it’s another year she’s not celebrated. These are years that have come and gone for me. I’ll be 25 this year. Lucy will never celebrate her 25th birthday. 

Her birthdays make me sad. Losing a friend so young is the worst thing. I wish she were her. I wish we could celebrate her birthday with her like we should be. 

Out of the mouths of babes

Sometimes children say things that really make you think. It makes you wonder why we don’t give children’s words more credit…sometimes they deserve it!

Recently I witnessed a situation where a same-sex couple (2 males) were being subject to hearing the disgust from a lady who clearly didn’t appreciate the love they have for each other. They weren’t being inappropriate, they were simply sitting together hand in hand. They had their niece with them. The lady, who I’d say was in her mid 60s was exclaiming how it’s not how things go and they should go indoors if they wanted to be abnormal. 

Nearby was a young girl, who would be about 6, and her mother. The little girl looked at the men and turned to her mum and asked if they were married because they look like they love each other. The mum said to her daughter that no they aren’t married, they do love each other, but 2 men can’t get married. The girl looked confused and asked why. Seeing as politics and the debate around same-sex marriage is too complex for such a young child, the mum simply said “the people who make the laws don’t let 2 boys or 2 girls get married”. The little girl thought for a moment, and then replied “well they are mean! If people love each other, they should all be allowed to get married”. 

This discussion went on between mother and daughter. After a little while, the 2 men came over after hearing the discussion and said hello. They told the girl that they believe one day they will be allowed to get married. To this the little girl replied “I hope so. You look like you should be married.”

It’s 2015 and a child is confused as to why marriage equality is NOT a thing. What does this say for adults in society who can’t see this?

It really should be as simple as the young girl said though, if people love each other, they should be allowed to be married. 

The saying is true though – children are often wiser than they’re given credit for and we really do need to pay attention to the things they say. As adults, it’s our responsibility to nurture children and their thoughts on the world around them. To help them grow into the adults that will one day be running our country. And if half of them are as wise and accepting as the young girl I saw, the country will be in good hands!!!