Getting all teary over here.

When I was younger, my mum and dad would always play a lot of Reggae music; the earliest memories of my childhood being those where my mum would throw on some Bob Marley, and dad would push me on a swing he made out of an old car seat, while singing 'Jammin' (completely off key).
It was was back then that I always noticed a sheet of paper on the fridge next to dad's enormous collection of fridge magnets which he would buy on the occasional trip to the video rental store, but that never really served any purpose other than being ornamental playthings for my sister and I. That sheet was always there, a sheet no bigger than a CD cover, covered in small black writing, with a picture of a faded sunset beneath the words. From the moment I was able to read and spell out letters, I read that sheet over and over. Sometimes, when the fridge would get cluttered with bills or school notices, I'd dig that one sheet up and bring back to where it was visible. I remember what it said. After years of those words being burnt into my memory, now, I don't even have to think twice.

"You may not be her first, her last, or her only.

She loved before she may love again.

But if she loves you now, what else matters?

She's not perfect - you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together

but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes,

hold onto her and give her the most you can.

She may not be thinking about you every second of the day,

but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break - her heart.

So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give.

Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there."

-Bob Marley

Back then, I never understood what the writing on that torn up, old sheet of paper really meant. I mean, I knew it had something to do with love or at least relationships, but I never realised the honesty and validity of Bob Marleys words. It's only been recently, having grown a bit in my own way, that I'm starting to appreciate this quote. It has become one of my favourites, although to be honest, I think it always has been.

It's been almost eight years since that sheet of paper was thrown away, but today, when, out of sheer luck, while browsing through my old school books I came across it; Written in the back of my year 4 English Journal- missing all forms of punctuation, and with words like 'secound' spelt wrong, it was still there...and it made me teary.

So I just wanted to share that with you all, I hope the words can translate you your own life, as much as they do to mine.

Long live the Reggae King!!! ....ishax