(no one): “Okay, so, lemme get this straight? She cooks … bakes … sews … sculpts … paints … rolls muscle on a stick … can change her own oil, tires, and wheels … can rock a pair of kitten heels like NOBODY’S effing business one day and a machine gun the frigging next … and she’s smart, kind, caring, compassionate, and extraordinarily beautiful? Yah, right!”

Umm, YAH! RIGHT!

… but why would we wanna blend in when we are drenched in gold? Never far … never out of reach … the embers in the dark lay quiet … burning just beneath. Isolated … complicated … girl, we found a way to make it out ALIVEA (and not feel so alone)! These days, when I look at you, I see that you’re just like me … a misfit runaway with gold plating underneath. I love you, Gia, and literally couldn’t be any prouder to call you “daughter” if I tried.

(“Never Ordinary“)

No, she really wasn’t ever ordinary. Through the darkest nights, she was born to shine but, but truth being told, “when I look at her” I see that she’s really not just like me. She’s “Me 5.0”! All the best parts of me burn through her even harder and brighter than can possibly be put into words. Lol! I’ve always said that someday when I grow up I hope to be more like her and less like me, but let’s face it – I am who I am – it is what it is – and “growing up” just isn’t on my short list. For now, I’ll just be her crazy Peter Pan momma, flitting about happily in my own little world in the tailwind of her stardust.

Three Days Grace released this one today with their Alienation album on what also happens to be the anniversary of one of the worst days of my life, but even more so, THE worst day of hers. If only you knew what we know to be true about what she endured in the wake of his insanity, you’d be baffled as to how she’s still standing as one whole human being. Nevertheless, she’s extraordinary. She’s fire … and magic … and courage … and kindness. She is so not like the others and has risen from ashes that should have literally desecrated her soul. Even still, SHE SHINES! And so, with that …

Dear Daughter,

We were NEVER ordinary and all the weight we’ve carried will help us keep writing our story. In the darkest night, WE were born to shine! When the nights grew cold … but our blood ran warm … and everything we’d touched just seemed to melt away and leave us alone, no one understood the noises in our head … but US. Such a simple melody playing over and over again … but why would we wanna blend in when we are drenched in gold? Never far … never out of reach … the embers in the dark lay quiet … burning just beneath. Isolated … complicated … we found a way to make it out alive (and not feel so alone)! These days, when I look at you, I see that you’re just like me … a misfit runaway with gold plating underneath. I love you, Gia, and literally couldn’t be any prouder to call you “daughter” if I tried.