17-year-old Astrid grabs me in a tight hug that lasts for
five minutes. With her Hollister tank
top, Aeropostale shorts, flip flops, dark tan, and ponytail, she looks like any
other Florida teen and in fact could pass as a sister of my two American
daughters. This summer, Astrid has
become my honorary daughter. Tears streak down her cheeks as she sobs in clear,
perfect English, “Thank you so much. It
was a perfect summer!” I hug her close
as both sadness and gratitude fill my heart.
I tell her that I don’t want her to leave and am so glad she came.
Lexi and Laina each take two or three turns to hug her
goodbye. “We will see you again someday,” they vow. Still, she cannot leave and opens her arms wide. “Come here,” she instructs, and all four of us
gather into a family bear hug. “Thank
you. I had so much fun. I love you.
You are a wonderful family.”
We air-kiss, the French way, and she enters the vehicle
that takes her away from us and back towards France.
I gather my girls close to comfort them as we enter our
suddenly too-empty house. After tears
run dry, we play songs from the summer and sing aloud, almost shouting the
words: “The sun goes down, the stars
come out, and all that counts is here and now.
My universe will never be the same.
I’m glad you came. So glad you
came.”
We trade stories, sharing and remembering our favorite
moments with Astrid: tubing the springs
at Kelly Park, eating the special meal the girls planned and I cooked on
Independence Day, watching fireworks over the Indian River, frolicking for beach
photo shoots, shopping at Vero Beach, swimming in the tide pool at Sebastian
Inlet, eating fresh-picked mangoes. We
upload photos and celebrate the memories: kayaking in the Banana River with dolphins,
watching the Manatee baseball game, dancing with Evolution, enjoying a day at Sea World and Wet N Wild,
goofing off at a sleepover.
We all three agree:
even though we are extremely sad to say goodbye, we would not trade the
experience for anything. We have all
learned so much. “I love it!” and “It’s
amazing!” are two of her favorite expressions, and her enthusiasm has infused
us with energy and light.
How is it that we are so lucky? Why have we been so blessed?
