Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I've been away from writing for a while. No good excuse, just pure, unadulterated, high quality laziness. As usual though, I'm motivated to put pen to paper (so to speak) again by the words of someone else; someone that I love and value, someone that I plan to keep an eye on for a long, long time.

I'm the lucky "aunt" of an amazing 15 year old girl that blows my mind from time to time. If you will, cast your memory back to when you were 15. Once you're done shuddering at the very thought of your 15 year old self, I'd like you to read a note Logan sent me today, a thank you for her Christmas present. Before you do - a short explanation of the gift. It was a gift card, but not one that she could spend at the mall, or on iTunes, or for any creepy Twilight schlock. No, this gift card could only be spent at TisBestPhilanthropy, a site where she could pick the charity of her choice to donate the money on the card. She couldn't buy shoes, or makeup, or music or anything else that a 15 year old girl wants, she could only give it away to someone else. Needless to say, this may have been a risky move, an incredibly unpopular present for a teenager but... well, read on...

Aunt Cari,
I spent a while looking around at all the different charities and found that i was interested in more that i thought i was. i looked through woman's issues, hunger, children, and a few more and ran into Girls On The Run International. i chose this one because it was all about how girls these days need confidence, and this program was going to help them find it. It was going to teach them that they don't need make up to be beautiful, they don't need their hair done in order to impress others, and i strongly believe that this is more than true. Its sad that in today's world , mostly girls, are judged by appearance, and this program helps them realize that they dont need to look good just to make a statement. Thanks for getting this card for me so i could help out a little for something i believed in a lot. I love you. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!
Love, Logan (:

I mean seriously. Of all the selfish WhatdoyoumeanyougotMEagiftcardforsomeoneELSE thoughts she might have come up with, and this is how she reacts!

All is not lost dear reader, the much maligned next generation is alive and kicking AND generous and smart. The girls that are following behind us will take better care of the planet, of us and of each other than we've managed to do for ourselves. I could not be more impressed, more in awe, or more overwhelmed with pride than if Logan were already out there singlehandedly saving the world. She's well on her way... I just hope she can drag some friends along with her to help. Think we're all gonna need it.

Thank YOU Logan Ann, for letting me help out a little for something I believe in a lot - you.