There was no short answer to this; like so much else, it was a long story. But what really makes any story real is knowing someone will hear it. And understand.

No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater.

But you only get so many do-overs in this life, so many chances to, if not change your past, alter your future.

I was so thrilled that I was having a girl, because I just am so girly myself, but I think the teenage years are going to be very interesting.

I looked down again at the sign in my hand - ENJOY THE RIDE! - and it seemed, suddenly, to be just that. A sign.

I trailed off and he didn't push me to finish. I was finding that I liked that.

Growing up means :propelling yourself forward into whatever lies ahead, one turn of the wheel at a time.