BEST ROMANTIC SCENE OF THE SUMMER
(From "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day")

Things I Learned Watching Nate & Hannah

So finally, Nate and Hannah will be going to college together. It's been a loooong, crazy journey and it's been interesting to watch it all unfold. It's been over two years since they've discovered that they like each other. The year before last, Hannah's senior year, was one of the most difficult time for me to watch--- 2 or 3 break-ups and all kinds of crazy, growing up challenges and hitches. I've seen Hannah go through some tough times with him. And I've seen him go through some tough learning experiences. Many times I thought and even preferred that things cool down and each one just move on. But for some reason, they kept on investing, repairing, learning, relearning, forgiving, improving, and loving each other better. I've learned a lot just by watching them and many times am reminded of things that perhaps I've forgotten or overlooked. They are so young and yet what they've managed to accomplish together has been inspiring.

Probably, the biggest lesson I've been reminded of just by observing is that of forgiveness and patience. I very rarely see this in such young people but they are so good at it. And it reminds me to be quick to forgive. But it doesn't stop there--what's inspiring is how they are quick to pick up relationship skills all by themselves. I wish I had that same ability to first, discover and recognize what needs repairing , and then secondly, the gumption and determination to make the necessary reparations and adjustments to cure their missteps. What they learn in a matter of days or even hours took me years to even realize. Another observation that just awes me is their ability to still achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives---be it academic, spiritual or even their musical progress while going through some pretty challenging inter-personal relationship-"growing-up" moments. They just govern themselves wisely.

Again, I don't know where this will go but it sure is fun to watch them grow up together and most of all, learn from each other--clumsy and sometimes hilarious as it may seem. I hope Nate goes on his mission as soon as possible because I know that extra blessings come from being quick to do what is required. Like Hannah said: she is just ready to wait already so that the two years will go quickly. She is SO right.

I hope that with the little time they have together that they will make meaningful and sweet memories that they each can hold on to while apart. I hope that they remain kind and thoughtful to each other---that the stress and fears of being apart will not translate to doubt and insecurities during this short time before Nate leaves. I hope they take a lot of pictures together to sear those memories onto something tangible and viewable that they can use when things get challenging and they can't be together. And lastly, I hope that whatever fear and doubts that may come from the anticipation of being separated will be replaced by hope, integrity in self-governance and faith in each other's devotion. Geez--it will be hard to trump the years of growing experiences that they've woven together. They just need to have faith in each other.

What's also interesting is that they've had so much practice being separated that it seems to me that two years will not be so daunting. I so wish the best for both of them. It seems such a rare thing---what they have--- that one can't help but root for them. Entre deux coeurs qui s'aiment, nul besoin de paroles.