more than the sum of my parts

• I saw the bolt of lightning coming, but I didn't jump out of the way quickly enough. (more…)

I’m the only daughter of an only daughter. The status “only child” is generally met with scorn or pity; and although I think I’ve turned out fairly well, I did grow up almost completely lacking in social skills and the ability to blend into new groups of people. It doesn’t help that I’m also the introvert child (ISFJ, to be exact) of an incredibly extroverted father and an introvert mother. To top it off, the extrovert father had a temper that he only learned to control later in life. I never heard my mother raise her voice, but I grew up watching her master the art of passive aggression to counter his anger. But — they loved each other passionately and completely. And I, their only child, their little girl, was/is the center of the universe.
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As of today, and for the next year, I am officially The Answer to life, the universe, and everything. I’ve suggested to my children that they can begin calling me “The Answer” immediately. Or, if they prefer, they can go with “She Who Must Be Obeyed.”

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