Stay Golden

How do you sign a yearbook? Do you just write your name and one of those silly little 3rd grade acronyms? Do you write pages of stories, remembering all the times you had with the person? I personally keep my messages to a small paragraph starting with the generic “this class was fun”, “that party was great” and ending with well-wishes and hoping to keep in touch, followed by my (somewhat illegible) signature.

I was perfectly happy with this technique until today when a new (meaning I had only gotten to know her within the last year) friend signed my yearbook. I’m used to the memories and such that I mentioned, and those are just great. She wrote that little bit but then she went on to say that she loves my personality and that I should never change; that I am someone she feels she can trust and that’s something she holds dear in a friendship. This got me thinking. Sure it’s great to sign yearbooks and reminisce and all that but isn’t a better reason to remind someone of what you like about them and how special they are to you? I must admit, I felt a pang of guilt over my generic message-signature combo after I read hers simply because I hadn’t made it personal. By changing a few words, I could have wrote the same thing in many people’s books, even if it was heartfelt. But this young woman and good friend of mine personalized her message to me; she made it mine. And I must give tribute to that because I can honestly say it is one of the only yearbook messages that have spoken directly to me.

So, for that direct message to me, I must thank You. You have made me re-realize what the whole point of signing yearbooks is: to remind those close to you that they are special and that you care about them and want to continue to make them a part of your life.

Stay Golden

6/4/2009

© 2007-2009 Jacob Tauer
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