Bette:  Why don’t we continue this tomorrow night.  What do we have to do tomorrow?

Tina:  I didn’t get any real estate prospects so I assume that tomorrow is a break day. We need to prepare for Friday.  You need to pick a bank out and decide what kind accounts you want. And we do not have any dinner plans, so I guess I’m going to cook.

Bette:  Okay, we will continue this tomorrow night.  Just think about what we have talked about. Oh, and you need to do some studying tomorrow. Angie, we love you.  You know that, right?

Angie: I love you too, both of you. You’ve given so much to think about. I never imagined that the transition from high school to college would entail so many changes and so many things to prepare for. Partying, relationships, starvation, space limitations, new people and god knows what else.  I really wonder if I’m ready for this.

Bette: Sweetie, what are you thinking?

Angie:  I’m really scared about being on my own. I’m afraid that I’m not going to be able to handle the new situations and new people and expectations. And I know I’m going to miss you guys and Daniel so much. It’s so exciting on one hand and absolutely terrifying on the other. I’m afraid that I am going to make the wrong choices and the wrong decisions.

Tina goes over and hugs her daughter closely.

Tina:  Oh sweetie.  Everyone messes up to some extent. It’s a part of life.  What you need to do is think about when you make decisions is “Is this in my best interest?” and then think things through as much as you can and then make the best decision based on what you know. And if you make a mistake, own it and try not to do it again. There are no manuals on how to become a successful happy adult.  It’s all trial and error, and try again. Just don’t do things which you know is not in your best interest or subjects you to risk which will take you off your life’s path. And if you feel you need to take those risk, minimize that risk of having a bad result. You are a lovely intelligent young woman. You have been given an opportunity that many people will not have. You are going to a prestigious university of your choosing and selecting a course of study of your choosing and having no obligations except to make the best of this opportunity. You are going to meet people from all walks of life with all kind of backgrounds, hopes and dreams. And for the most part, they are all searching for the same thing: to lead happy productive life. But the truth is no one gets a happy productive life without work and suffering a few disappointments along the way.  Most people are not going to behave like we want them to. And there are those who will do anything to get what they want including deceiving people, lying to people and purposely harming people.  Those people are not your friends even if they say they are. Your friends are those who will give you words of encouragement when you’re down, will stand by you when you know you are doing the right thing, will give you a helping hand when you need it and would never do anything purposely to harm you.  And friends are those whom you would do for them, that which you want them to do for you. Relationships are natural. It’s what humans do. They seek relationships with others for company, for support, for good times, and to know that we are not on the road from cradle to grave alone. For the most part, we are attracted to people who are very much like ourselves. We seek people who share our values, who have similar goals, and are at similar stages of life.  We repel those who are not like us and who do not share our values. We become friends with those who are much like us. And from that group of friends, someone appears who possibly will be a potential life mate. And it may take years to figure out who that may be. And for most of us, they will appear when you least expect it. But when you meet that person, you will know fairly quickly and with a fair amount of certainty that this is one. This is my soul mate. And then the real work on a relationship begins because even with a soul mate, it still takes time, effort, communication, empathy and understanding to make things work. Sometime it takes a bit of self-sacrifice and post-phoning some of the things you really want to make things work well. But if you really have found your soul mate, they will do the same for you and to benefit both of you. And even if you have done all that you can do, there still will be disappointments and heart aches which you will have no control over. But with the right person by your side, you get through it and you go on a build a happy life. And me and your Mama will be right here to support you, to give you advice and to cheer you on and love you with all of our hearts. You are our baby, our daughter, and there is nothing that is going to change that. So, whatever happens in your life, whatever path you take, just know that we are right here and we love you will all of our hearts.