Happy 21st Rachel Photo Gallery by Blind Poet at pbase.com

Happy 21st Rachel

This gallery is from a father to one of his amazing daughters,
and one of his 3 special kids.
Forgive me for the public nature of this display of love, honour and
attempting to give you a gift across 8000 miles and
despite my life circumstances.

You will be sleeping perhaps right now, maybe up with
your mates having good times.
Whichever it is, this father will go to bed and try to
sleep after digging out these images of you Rachel,
your family and thinking about places and people.
I will have to try to sleep because I will be wishing
I could turn back time, that I could have been someone else,
that families are not meant to be broken,
that I made some choices I regret.

All sleep comes eventually, and that will
be good because I have comments to make on these photos,
and words to write about you. It's your birthday, and the 21.
Ho it all went so fast.
I was thinking about when you were born the other day, I remember the room.

I don't like being so far from you.
I will have a pretend party tomorrow and write some words here.

I love you Rachel.

Happy Birthday.

Dad.
aka BlindPoet

Okay Rach, here's what your dad would say if
there was a party and he could be let to do
his thing as 1000's of Australian and kiwi dads have
and will continue in the tradition

I'd say..............
It's a neat thing for Rachel to have reached this ripe old age.
its even neater that she has reached it in her own unique way
and that for those of us who know her she has our admiration
respect and love.
When Rachel was much younger, I can't really remember why she got into
trouble, or why she had to be disciplined sometimes,
BUT
It was always a performance!
I can remember trying to hide my grinning, and wanting to laugh
at her willful antics, resisting arrest and handcuffs as it were in her room
That's metaphorical of course.
No dad likes to administer any kind of discipline, yep the cliche is correct
you do it for love of the child and for it to work
you had to be sort of serious. Rachel would twist and turn,
cry louder, as loud as a cow, oh Daaaaaaa.......aad
find all sorts of logical statements
to get at you with,(she's always had a good head and asks great questionz)
she'd put books down her pants and do
anything to not get that wooden spoon

Now I don't think it was the spoon that hurt but
her will was being afronted somehow.

I can remember her wise mother saying that one day
that will would be an asset.
It was about training the will and nourishing the spirit..
And so it has been Rach.
You are not a flakey person at all.
we used to joke that your name means
'Little Lamb'.....well you were and are anything but.

I can remember lots if fun Rachel, growing up with you.
So from the room you were born in, until this moment it
is 21 years worth of love. Years x minutes x seconds
Its never boring around you.
I am just so impressed with your courage, stickablity
and how you make your own choices.
You have got to this point as an awesome young woman.
It takes a village to raise a child and so it has been no different
with you.
It's not anyone claiming any credit for how wonderful a person you are
BUT it is acknowledging all the people that
have input into your life,
your awesome mother, brother and sister,
grandparents and xtended family
friends, and boyfriends.
We have watched you grow and bloom
and have been priviledged to be a part of your life unfolding.

Remember the vodka and the straw incident (I think it was vodka eh Rach)
You learned your own lesson
and you have continued like that.
Learning isn't always fun, but you have learned to believe in yourself, face fear and do it anyway
you have learned to be yourself and that you can do it.
This isn't positive BS, it's what you have done.

So Rachel, you have made an awesome start to your life, amidst difficult circumstances sometimes,
sadness and broken dreams, you love fun, beauty, you are creative and have a great head on your shoulders, you are a home body going on an adventure without a home.

Wisdom is making the right choices, you have my utmost respect for your choices.
I see your wisdom.
I see your sense of fun, and wanting to have an adventure.

Life is a playground, not a tight rope.

Great start Rachel, 21 is like the finishing line of the first stage of a race.
I hear clapping, whistling, cheers as you have crossed the finish line.
I see people I know as well as people I don't know in the crowd as you run in.
But we all know you somehow, you have touched our lives.
I see tears, good tears, happy tears, I see smiles and watery eyes,
I see faces remembering, I see kindness and laughter.

All these people love you, all these people know you
enjoy you, and are here to wish you well, to say you done great mate!
to hug you, share a drink with you, to whisper in your ear how special you are
how loved you are.

And in the strength of this great finish you will start the next stage..........
and we all know you will do well.

So then, Rachel Hughes, little lamb, you were born to a family that loves you very very much,
you became friends with many who love who you are, you are never alone, you will always have a home somewhere........

You bring so much warmth,beauty & light and fun into our lives and to the world, you are always welcome.

God please continue to watch over her and bless her as she travels this weird road called life, wherever it leads her

God bless you Rach.

Dad

CLICK on images for larger version and comments

Whananaki	Whananaki	Clare Rach's big sis	Seamus Rach's little BIG brother
Rachel Jollie	Clare, Jase and Bill	Seamus & Bill the best dog ever	Bat woman graduates
Rach	Rach with flowers from her mum & xtended family	Graduating TOP of the class	Class mates
Hiking up Parahaka	Whananaki where we camp	Rach took Bill to the beach often	Bill posing
The sunset the day rachel left Whangarei for OZ	Seamus at Marissis	Bill	Rachs GGGGfather. Was an artist
The day Rach left NZ for OZ and adventure 08	Rachs mate Nik, one of the neatest guys ever	Rach's Grand dad and nana. Blind Poets mum & dad	Graduation smiles
Thinking	Graduating	Graduating, she really worked hard	Me and Rach (obviously)
Rach and Gayle vanD	Jumping off the boat @ The Pooor Knights	@ the Knights	Poor Knights

comment |

skhin	PM reply	10-Nov-2011 01:33
Awesome! Best ever tribute from a dad!

Guest		23-Dec-2008 20:38
Best wishes for a great time and a great life. Congratulations Rachael. Have a great OE and take care. Love from the Rusks at Hikurangi.

Clare Hughes		20-Dec-2008 07:05
Hey Dad THANK GOODNESS I WASNT LISTENING TO YOU SAY THAT :) I am having a tear at the computer Funny last night (and frequently lately) I have told stories about Rachel and the wooden spoon AND the grin you used to have when trying to discipline Rach when she was little and then I would grin too and then I would get a growling hahahaha xxxxx

John & Hema Hughes		17-Dec-2008 09:34
A beautiful gallery from a loving Dad in a far away place to his daughter. A beautiful story of his daughters life through his eyes that is full of meaning and sendiment. Exciting photo records of Rachaels moments and acheivements, and her links with her family and friends. Well done Dad and Rachael. Happy 21st Birthday Rachael.

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