Dear Waterbear,

I am proud of you. So very proud of you and all of your achievements. I am also proud of how, even through the difficult times, you continue to work, strive, fight. Your determination is endearing.

I did get emotional today because hearing you talk, in words, of how you felt, of how in that moment you found your place in this world, was magical, and a testament to you and the work that you are doing here.

I sometimes do not know how to help you. I try my best to understand you, but as I have said before, you and I seem to think very differently and sometimes that causes me to struggle to decipher what you are saying or what you need. I am pleased to hear that this doesn't always upset you anymore though, because that is the last thing that I want.

I wish that you had had better. I wish that you had had people who knew how to interact with you. I wish that you had not been picked on, used, neglected, abused. I wish that I could have helped you back then, but I don't see how me wishing that will help you now.

I never know what I am going to get with you, and I find that interesting, intriguing, challenging, fun and, in a way, unique.

I am right here rooting for you. I am here whenever you need me, when I can be, and I am pleased that you know that now, that you can trust that, mostly!

I always look forward to seeing you, you know, and I am looking forward to seeing you and everything that you bring on Friday.