Ramona, Forever

Sometimes through the years, I've wondered what my younger self would think of my adult self if she could gain a window to my current world. What would she think about Adam? Shabbi, Kika? Living in Michigan? Being a wildlife biologist? When I was a young girl, I always imagined I would travel the world, globe-trotting from one country to the next as a citizen of the world. I would have many "lov-ahs" (lovers, with a European accent), settle down with none of them, and do really important work at the international scale. Wow. I guess my younger self would be really disappointed with my current self.

I'm especially curious about my younger self in recent days, because I've figuratively gone back in time...I've resurrected copies of the "Ramona Quimby" series and have been reading them to Bryony. It's been eye-opening to read these books again after so many years (I think I read the last one when I was nine or ten); many of the words and situations that left me confused as a child have been uproaringly hilarious to me now as an adult. I think about myself as a kid, reading these books and siding with poor little Ramona in her constant battle to be respected by her family, teachers and classmates. Now, I can laugh along at her misadventures while still remembering why I empathized with her so many years ago.

I've been thinking lately about what Ramona would be like as an adult. Would she fulfill the dreams her child self had conjered for her? Or would little Ramona be disappointed with the way her life turned out?

All I can say is that whatever my younger self might have thought, my adult self is pretty darn satisfied. How can I complain about having a wonderful family, a fulfilling job and general overall happiness? So what if I never became Lauren of Arabia? I like to think I'm making some positive impacts here at the local level. Besides, I think I've still got a few more good years left in me to cash in my frequent flyer miles...and break some foreign hearts, once they catch sight of my wedding band.