1. I know you’re more worried about what’s going on at school right now than spending time with your family, but one day, you’ll enjoy being with your Mom so much you’ll take road trips to some really pretty places together.
(1a. Pay more attention to the things she writes to you in those cards she leaves on your bed.)
2. When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Take half the clothes and twice the money. (Heller)
3. Start each day by looking up. It’ll widen your horizon.
4. The human spirit needs places where nature hasn’t been rearranged by the hand of man. Take more walks in the woods!
5. You know all that weird “old stuff” your Mom thinks is so cool right now? (screen doors, stone chimneys, old windows) You’ll be crazy about it all one day, too.
(5a. You’ll love that kind of stuff so much you’ll even start a blog about it.) (PS- I know you don’t know what a blog is right now, but trust me, you’ll be crazy about those too one day.)
6. Those architectural drawings your Mom works on in her office may not intrigue you now, but one day, you’ll be passionate about drawing rooms to scale for people too. Ask her questions about what she’s working on and take notes!
7. This may be hard to believe, but weeding the garden isn’t going to kill you.
(7a. one day, you’ll wish you had enough time, talent and space to grow all the amazing things your Mom does!)
8. Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. (Einstein) Follow your heart and fight for your dreams!
9. Riding bike might not seem like a very “cool” thing to do right now, but one day you’ll see a grass green Schwinn cruiser that’ll take your breath away.
10. Buy a bike now and ride it whenever you can! There are awesome bike trails all over the place, just ask your Mom.
11. In late September, spend less time looking at your cell phone (again, that will make sense later in life), and more time looking at the trees explode with color.
(PS- You aren’t going to meet and marry Jon Knight from NKOTB, but don’t worry- there’s another music man out there whose heart has your name written all over it.)
12. Pay more attention in photography class. There’s a road from the eye to the heart that doesn’t go through the intellect (Chesterton) and one day you’ll slam on the brakes to take pictures of things you don’t even notice are beautiful right now.
13. Ask your Mom to teach you how to cook. If you don’t take the time to learn how to do it now, you’ll be eating cereal, sandwiches and Stouffer’s when you’re 37. I’m not kidding.
14. Cherish the sky-blue painted wood floor in your bedroom. One day, you’ll want to paint the wood floors in your own home, but you’ll be too scared to do it!
15. Do not, I repeat, do not try to use a fire escape ladder to sneak out your second floor bedroom window this year. You will regret it. I promise.
16. Being grounded isn’t the worst thing in the world. When you get older, you’ll actually enjoy sitting still.
17. I hate to break it to you, but you will always be afraid of the dark. Invest in a good nightlight and take it with you wherever you go!
18. The three C’s of life are choices, chances, and changes. You’ve gotta make a choice to take a chance in order to change. (unknown)
(18a. The 4th C should be for Chex mix. Not only will you carry a bag of it wherever you go when you’re 37 years old, but in a pinch, you’ll also use it to king your checkers on one of the road trips you take with your Mom that year.)
19. Someone is totally right about that whole water thing. Sweat, tears, and the sea can cure anything.
20. At different points throughout your adult life, your inner fire will go out. Don’t worry. Spend time with people who can rekindle your inner spirit and don’t ever forget to tell them how much they mean to you.
21. When it comes to solving problems, dig at the roots. Don’t just hack at the leaves. (D’Angelo)
22. Sometimes, the most important thing in a whole day is the rest you take between two deep breaths. (Hillesum)
23. You might not ever figure out exactly what you want to be when you grow up, but that’s okay.
Your parents are totally cool with your artsy-fartsyness and life is more about the journey than the destination anyway.
24. Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. (D’Angelo)
25. Be like the color yellow as much as possible. Sunny, optimistic and cheerful!
26. Read more books. Someday you’ll want to write one.
27. Blog about your road trips with your Mom and include lots of pictures so you can relive the memories you shared with her for years to come.
Some of them will instantly transport you back to the day Mother Nature seemed to be celebrating her very presence by showering her with crunchy “leaf confetti” every time the wind blew extra hard. (Remember how she had to guard her coffee from the celebration!)
Some of them will bring back memories of exploring interesting places, sipping wine out of tiny juice glasses, and making up your own rules because neither of you knew how to really play…
And fortunately, some of them will be there for you to witness over and over again…
Just beautiful. =)
Absoluely Beautiful! Love and miss you both – so happy you had a good time in Wandawega!
Layla, Thank you for this beautiful blog. The pictures and especially your words brought joy to my heart! I hope one day I will be fortunate to have a trip with my sweet girl just like yours!
LOVED this posting! Very thought provoking. Thank you for your sharing and I think I really like your mom:)
Layla,
Your post took my breath away. I think I will have to actually go back and look at the pictures. It really really touched my heart. I can’t wait to borrow some of these quotes…love the three C’s.
Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us:)
Thank you, Wendy! Your comments always make me smile! 😀
Layla,
I loved this!!! I am going to have my 18 year old daughter read it! Thankfully, she is coming over to “our side”. We spent Saturday scouring yard sales and antique stores here in New Hampshire. She loves the idea of the two of us starting a mother/daughter blog together too~! Love your blog and your story.
Gloria
Lovely post. -Made me miss taking roadtrips with my mom, but she’s 82 and not quite up to it these days. I guess its important to always savor those opportunities and memories. -And ah, the things I wish I’d known at 17! : )
What a beautiful post! I am going to make my 10 year old daughter read this…and also my 67 year old mother who can’t find the “right” time to retire!
Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
Read this yesterday and have been thinking about it ever since. Love your blog and your thoughts!
This is just a beautiful post, Layla. My mom died of ovarian cancer at age 68, and I never got to take a trip with her.
Add #28–cherish every moment with your mother and tell her you love her often, because you have no idea how much you will miss her until it’s too late.
I have to say this made me a little teary- thanks =)
I’m going to share your Mothers Quote about sweat tears and sea- on FB….and I’m saving this post on pinterest….so I will never forget how blessed-ed life is.
Thanks dear one- Have a Happy Day.
Teresa
What a wonderful post. Gorgeous photos. I would have a fair few things to say to my 17 year old self too.
Don’t be embarrassed by your parents would be one. No one thinks you’re ‘uncool’ for hanging out with them.
Do what you think is right not what everyone else is doing.
Don’t sleep the day away.
I could go on forever but you’ve definitely got me thinking. It might be a nice thing to write down for my kids (when I have them) while I can still remember being 17!
Oh my, Layla – who are you? This is a truly magnificent post. Touching, profound and so, so deeply wise. You are my new hero. Debra
Well thank you for leaving such a sweet comment, Debra! I really appreciate your kind words and I’m so happy to “meet” you tonight! 😀
Hi Layla – me again! I’ve just read a number of the above comments. Yikes – it sounds like you brought alot of people to tears. As such, I bet they as much as I, would love to hear how you feel about this outpouring (no pun intended) of what? – gratitude, affection, awe… Will you respond?
Hi again! 😀
I am so touched by all the heartfelt comments on this post. I teared up several times while putting it together, and reading through the comments has been a very emotional experience too! :_-)
Beautiful! What a special letter to your mom <3 Thanks for sharing!
I lost my mom 4 years ago yesterday. This was an incredibly beautiful tribute to your mom. Treasure every moment you have have with her. This is the best post you have ever done…!
I’m sending you a big, huge e-hug today, Jenny!!!
Please please please tell me where that amazing tree house is! I need to visit it with my mom!
-Sierra
Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, Wisconsin! 😀
I can only hope my daughters might cherish time with me the way you clearly do with your mother. And, while I am not certain your 17 year-old self would have understood the messages you so beautifully conveyed, I do believe her 37 year-old self took in the experiences in a very meaningful way. You remind me of a quote from Jack London’s To Build a Fire – only I need to modify it a bit: (S)he was intelligent in the ways of life, but [not] only in the ways, but also in the significances… Your mother must be beyond proud of the woman you have become, and are becoming.
So far, my most favorite post you’ve done. I would tell myself many of the same things (we are the same age) and you’ve made me want to take a road trip with my mom whom I already get to see many times a week. Thank you for such a thought-provoking post. Just beautiful.
Thank you Mindi!
I hope you do take a road trip with your Mom, and that you have an amazing time together! 😀
Beautiful!
P.S. That Schwinn is incredible. Want.
I think that this is my very favorite post of yours – ever. I love it on so many levels – the insight, the trip with your mom, the message. Bravo my friend – brilliant!
xx
Thank you, Kimberly! I appreciate your kind comment SO much! 😀
This is an awesome post. I felt like I was there. I even teared up a bit – Thank you!
Beautiful post Layla! You are an incredible daughter!
🙂 This made me smile! You have such a sweet spirit. I’m so glad you enjoy spending time with your Mom so much! That’s really awesome. My mom and I are really close too and I don’t know what I’d do without her. I’d be saying alot of the same things to my 17 year old self! I’d add,,,wear a bra everyday, the girls aren’t gonna be perky forever! LOL 😉
Oh my word! This just may be my favorite post ever of yours. I think because it’s the unexpected smack in the middle of all your wondrous creativity.
Love it!
Beautiful. I have to save these since I would have told it to myself as well… I was going for Jordan back then 🙂
If you do not mind, I will share Einstein quote on my FB page. That is the best!
Hugs, Ilke
I think you hit a home run here. Great post!
This made me so homesick! Beautiful pics!
Loved this post…made me journey a little bit down my own memory lane!
Oh, that was so lovely. You made me cry. You made me call my mom. And you made me paint my kitchen yellow. 🙂
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful post.
How beautiful….what sentiment. I really wish my daughter could understand the big picture in life now…but I suppose that is just part of growing older. We definately get wiser with age and are able to look back at the drama of all the little things that occured during our youth with a much smarter perspective. Well most of us can.
It is great that you and your mom were able to have this time together. It gives me a great idea and want to do a road trip with my 3 sisters and my mom before out time is up with her.
Absolutely beautiful and inspiring. I don’t have that kind of relationship with my mother anymore, but I can start my own traditions with my sons. I’ve been wanting to start and I suppose this entry has pushed me closer to that path. Thank you for such a briliant post. I can tell this really came from a special place inside of you.
This post gave me beautiful chills……..remembering back to days with my Mom and times with my own daughter. Really love your blog!
You have a lovely way of sharing. It was a treat to read your blog today (and always). You have a unique way of sharing grace and sweetness. Every single time I check in with your blog I feel like I just opened a special gift just for me.
Thank you, simply thank you.
Layla, such an inspiring post! I truly value each comment and got teary eyed reading through this. Absolutely lovely! BTW your mom is a beautiful woman, please pass it on. I so enjoy your blog and view it daily. Thank you again.
Beautiful post and oh so very true. I wish I could have told my 17 year old self the same thing. And try very hard not to forget what you’ve written as you go forward. I’m 44 years old, I lost my 65 year old mother in May. All I have are sweet memories & pictures, won’t be making any new ones. It makes those memories so much more a treasure. Such gloriously beautiful treasure, wrapped in a drop-you-to-your knees desire to be able to make just one more…
I needed to hear what you needed to say. Thank you.
That is a beautiful post. I still have tears in my eyes as I write this. I have four daughters and will be sharing this with them. What you wrote is so true!! I also live in WI and know theses places 🙂 I love jumping in the car with my camera on any given day and snapping pictures of the roadside scenes. It is a pretty cool place to live!
I have a 22-year-old daughter and she is just beginning to recognize many of the thoughts you have blogged about today. Its such a beautiful thing to watch them discover all the wonders life has to offer. You appreciate them even more.
i’m pretty certain all i need to tell myself at 17 is to stop being so hard on my mom, that one day well before i am even 40 she won’t be around and i’ll miss her desperately.
Simply beautiful words and photos! My hasband is from Wisconsin, I think he has been holding out! I have a 17 yr old daughter I wish I could have her read it AND that is would sink in! If only we would have listened when we were young! thanks
Oh my friend, this is so beautiful! Your mom must be so proud of such a thoughful daughter with such a wonderful spirit. It looks like you’re making real memories there, so delighted to see this landscape through your eyes!
xo
Kate
What a beautiful post!
Shut the front door!!!! When I saw Sparta Bike Statue I about died. You have no idea how many times I have been in that town. Ft. McCoy is right down the road and my husband was stationed there for 4 years.
Also, I grew up in Black River Falls and now live in Eau Claire.
You totally were up in my hood girl.
I am so lucky to live in WI. Swoon.
Beautiful, perfect, sweet, intelligent, and straight from the heart. I loved it. I cried, I chuckled…I think I will call my mom! 🙂
Amazing post! Thank you for sharing!!
What a beautiful post, Layla. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. It’s…..beautiful….like the teary eyed kinda beautiful.
I TOO was going to marry a New Kid. Mrs. Donald Edmund Wahlberg. I am NOW a very happy Mrs, David James Allison. He has Donnie’s lips though….my goodness does he have Donnie’s lips! LOL
Layla,
This was a fantastic post. I lost my mom this past summer to cancer and so many of these things were things she said to me growing up. And I hear myself repeating them to my 7 year old daughter. Oh how I would love to hear my mom say these things just one last time. And hear her laugh when she would hear me repeat them as well. May the memories of your trip warm your soul for years to come.
Absolutely perfect! This intimate, very real post brought tears to my eyes. I am deeply touched by your words and photos. You and Miss Mama are beautiful women. I can see her wisdom, grace and peaceful spirit shine through, not only the photos but through you and you thoughts and outlook during your time together! Truely a blessing! Seemingly, she has done a fabulous job as a Mother and friend and I believe you will be just as lovely when your time is called. I kept thinking, boy, if I could actually get one 17 yr old to belive me when I tried to explain these things to them-oh how my soul would be fed, the very feeling you brought forth while I read this. Thanks for the bottom of my heart and part of my gizzard! I needed that cleansing breath though I was not able to experience the great trip and company you had-the post delivered fully! Layla, you ROCK! Kevin is a lucky man =)