There came a point in my life in my early 20s where I was living in a house full of boys after a falling out with a roommate. I was jobless, school-less, and worthless. My parents where wise enough to let it happen. They allowed me to be a lazy worthless hippie and date a boy with a motorcycle. They let me cry to them when I was broke and didn't understand why the world hated me. They gave me money and made sure I was fed. Until they didn't anymore.
I remember sitting on the porch in the middle of the summer watching the dogs run around in the yard and my phone rang. It was my mother. I could tell this was a different kind of phone call. I thought about ignoring it, but then looked down at the phone my parents had bought me and decided it was the least I could do. "Hey, Mom." "Asheton, you listen to me and don't say anything until I'm done, do you understand?" I knew what that meant. I hunkered down into the "vintage" porch couch and took a deep breath. She went on to tell me that I came from a line of very strong women. That when we are put down by this world we grab ourselves by our favorite pair of boot straps and push on. She wanted to make sure that I knew that she didn't raise any quitters and it was my job to not bump her off her winning streak because, "I gained 50 lbs with your pregnancy and you were two weeks late!" She ended the phone call by saying that she loved me and that she knew I would make her proud.
I hung up the phone. I looked at my bare feet. I called the dogs into the house. I went inside and stared into my pile of stuff on the floor. I found my favorite pair of boots and pulled them on. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't remember that conversation. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't pull on my favorite pair of boots.
Be strong, wise and love each other, girls. And always take on the world in your favorite pair of boots.
