Park Ranger Jenny

Dear Mom,

This week in my US History class (yes, I changed my minor again), we've been talking about the creation of the Forest Service and the creation of the national parks. And I can't help but think of you and how you always thought you'd missed your calling and you should have been a park ranger. Or a campground host, at the very least.

And you would have been so good at it. I can just see you in your floppy little hat, teaching kids how to safely put out fires and not get stung by poison ivy. And chatting the ears off every out-of-towner about the best hikes and bike trails and places to get ice cream and where they'd be most likely to see a bear.

That's who you are to me, you know. The woman who gave me my sense of adventure. The one who could always be counted on to stay twenty minutes too long, just talking to someone. Whether you knew them or not. The woman who always knew best. The person I miss every day.

I hope they have parks where you are. I hope you're talking someone's ear off right now. I hope you're having all of the adventures you couldn't when you were here, and your body couldn't quite keep up.

Love always,
The Fun Daughter