Ma and Pops,
Forty years. Seriously, you two. Congratulations, Good Job, Thank You, and Holy Shit.
When Carla suggested this project, I was excited to honor you, but had no idea it would prove so meaningful to me as well. This gave me the opportunity to not only paw through pictures (that I had never seen before and that I love so much) of your past (courtesy of Aunt Jo), but also to see that it’s not just Matt, Carla, and I who have benefited from your decision to start a family.
Here are some things I have learned/thought/realized from this process.
1)
Your love for people in their truest form has honestly
changed lives. Reading the words of family and friends made me realize that I
have NEVER brought someone home whom you did not treat with respect and
acceptance. When I think about some of the people I have brought home, this is truly
an amazing feat. And yet, you feed them, you drive them around, and more often than
not you create your own relationship with them. You love them. You laugh with
them. You share your lives with them. This behavior has resulted in the perpetual
growth of the Clark-Upton clan. I have countless sisters and brothers, aunts
and uncles, made from unconditional love, rather than blood (although I have
some pretty damn badass blood aunts/uncles/cousins too.) Thank you for this. It’s
a tradition I plan to continue as long as I live.
2)
You have taught me that even in the toughest moments
you can find laughter. Whether it is remembering someone we love through funny
stories or finally just laughing at how stupid an argument really is. You have
always used laughter as a way to heal and overcome obstacles. When I miss you
it is the laughing I think about most. You have created a family of loud,
sincere laugh-ers. I really like that about us.
3)
You are just fuckin’ adorable. You were in ’75 and you
are today. Cute as fuckin’ buttons. When I was going through photos I kept
seeing Matt in Dad and Carla in Mom. I fell in love with Pop’s mustache and
puffy coat, and the cute little curve of Mom’s nose and her ever-present
toothy grin. Your smiles have apparently always been contagious, and I spent no
less than two hours with a ridiculous one of my own while I scanned away. (The cheek pain is not
over as I have two more boxes of the Upton side. WhittlebabyJimmyhasthecutestDIMPLE.)
4)
You have and will always be there when someone you love
is in need. You give through your time and talents, your energy and your
pockets. You never ask for anything in return, and often don’t even get the gratitude
you deserve, and yet here you are, still doing it after all of these years.
5)
I don’t tell you thank you enough. I have never told
you thank you enough. Truth be told it would be impossible to thank you enough.
6)
You made me the best brother and sister anyone could
ever hope for. They are just like you. They love me more than any sensible
person should, and they show it in their own unique and adorable ways. They
have both followed your lead, and chosen to spend every day of their lives
helping improve the lives of others. They give, give, give and love, love, love
AND make the very best fart jokes. What else could a girl ask for?
7)
The signs of your pet hoarding were showing early. It’s
no surprise you have found yourselves where you are. Thank God for it too. What
the hell would we do without our babies?
8)
It is impossible to express everything I am thinking
and feeling here. I have learned I need to do a better job of saying it to you
when it crosses my mind, instead of waiting for a milestone.
9)
I am a lucky little shit.
I suppose that is it for now. I wish this could adequately express everything in this brain. But it can’t and won’t, so I will creatively problem solve a way to get the rest of it out of here and to you.
I love you guys. I love you so, so, so much. Thank you for starting our family. Thank you for pushing through the not-so-pretty times for all the prettiest ones. Thank you for always being an example of love, growth, forgiveness, as well as the proper use of red wine and pina coladas (sometimes in the same night.)
Sugar
P.S. I only said fuck
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