Adventures with Leslie
Who’s ready for a Leslie update?
My sister, Leslie, has a way of reminding us what actually matters, usually without trying.
We recently celebrated her birthday at Medieval Times with her four roommates and her incredible direct support professionals.
A few years ago, an outing like that would have been unimaginable.
But here’s the thing about Leslie…her favorite adventures aren’t big events.
They’re the simple ones.
Running errands.
Sitting on my couch.
Watching TV…especially the news and the Ravens.
“Jesse Minter is the new head coach,” she told me.
I smiled. I actually knew that one.
When the Ravens weren’t on (it is April, after all), I asked what she wanted to watch instead.
“Golf.”
And she meant it.
She knew the players. The leaderboard. The storylines.
And just like that, we found it…an unexpected connection point between Leslie and my son. Sitting side by side, talking about players like they’d been doing it for years.
He’s always been helpful and polite with his aunt but this was a genuine conversation.
It was one of those quiet, perfect moments after Easter brunch that you don’t plan but you never forget.
Her Target (or Walmart) list is always the same.
The same items. The same order. Paper crumpled from being in her pocket, carried around for days waiting for the trip.
We treat every trip like it’s the first. Because for Leslie, in many ways, it is.
What I’ve come to understand is this: For Leslie, these aren’t routines to get through. They’re experiences to be had.
And maybe that’s the point.
America Turns 250
America turns 250 today. Fifty years ago, when our country celebrated its Bicentennial, I was 11 years old. I had
