I'm blushing a little, but I have to say, I'm nowhere near as awesome as your mother. I was far too concerned with making my dad proud of me when I was a kid - still am, in so many ways - to let it get as far as being sent out of class. I got lucky that time, but it's something I've held on to, knowing that if you fight that there will be people out there who don't agree with you, but who admire your convictions all the same. It did me some good, I think, because now I can have - mild, I have to say - arguments with my dad about stuff like this. (I say arguments. I may be biased, but I refuse to believe someone as awesome as my dad in every other way is a dick about stuff like this; I think he says it to provoke me, to see how far I think. Hey, the guy has a PhB (cause it's from Rome) in Philosophy. He knows how to think.)

Because of course you have to be able to listen, you have to, but you also have to be able to recognize when somebody is dead wrong Oh God, yes, this. It is incredible how often I sit there and think, wait, what, did they actually just say that? It's easier than it used to be to fight that, easier as in I just, don't think about it anymore. It may be big-headed, but I'm proud of myself for that now. I'm proud of everyone who can, and does.

Okay, so. You are, utterly incredibly awesome, in so many ways, and I'm kinda making starry eyes at you over here. Would you mind if I friended you? Feel free to say no, of course.