Find a way, get it done, no problem, learn, I am ready, what's next. Caroline was originially nicknamed Dee Lite just because the big D in her name And then I just watcher her conquer the world with a bluster that was amazing. She arrived in Biloxi with one arm in a cast and instead of letting that she used it as an asset, pounding nails or door jambs with her new tool -- her cast. I was shocked when I saw her doing it, but she told me right away it was no big deal and besides she was getting the job done faster this way. There has been some real stuff happen in this young woman's life, stuff that makes strong people cry, and makes strong people stop. Not Bam-Bam (her new nickname by the way), she charges into life taking on the world with a strength and a confidence. She believes in herself and knows she can conquer what is in her path. She is fearless.
She also has a cleverness and a naturalness that makes conversation with her a joy. I just realized that her name was spelled Damico not D'Amico. She told me that her family lost it when the crossed the Atlantic. We then spilled into a 3 minute conversation about all the apostrophes on the bottom of the Atlantic and would it be worth someone getting a salvage ship and bringing them all to shore. She told me that they would not be worth that much and doubted whether the salvager would make any money. Pure Gold. Caroline had the job of sitting next to me on our way to Biloxi and try to manage communication with the other 40 people on the trip and organize stops. She was more than ready. I have to remember to use some of her nonchalance to curb my frustration on this trip. There are many moving parts and sometimes I let them get the better of me, but a 20 year old kid handles bigger problems routinely while being there always for her family and her friends.
I need to figure out the vision of Sam and Megan Manuel, they can spot great people within a very short time, and then at least on the Biloxi trip, let them shine to be even greater. If the Cardinals had the twins ability to spot talent, we would have an All-Star at every position. So on the right of the photo, every bit as strong as Caroline, is Marianna, but almost always Mare to those close to her. I think she just might believe that her name is too long, and the shortness and the directness of the smaller name fits her personality to a tee. She is just always ready for anything. Her nickname is Unshakeable, Unbreakable and she has always been that person. I got the nickname from a song even before I knew her, but now it is so fitting. Everything for another, whatever I can do for another I am ready to do, whatever I can do to make this week worthwhile for some of the younger people I will do.
I am looking out 8 hours before a week of hard work and I see Hayley Kuehner, Katie LaVigne, Maggie Connelly, Sam and Megan, and these two that I had breakfast with this morning. I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. Here they are --fast friends. Somehow they have hooked into each other sharing the same selflessness and kindness. They are talking girl stuff, and sleep and just kind of fun talk. Tomorrow they will jump into a dozen new challenges and. . . (tears fill my eyes realizing what I will see tomorrow. The blessings I see every year from this crew).
Said a Memorare and told Mary Bryant to watch out for the young ones walking in her steps. On this trip, it is sometimes easy to see God's grace, and believe in Heaven. I would like to be there when Mary Bryant in her black Converse high tops meets Bam-Bam and Unshakeable, Unbreakable. I can already hear them laughing.
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