THE TEACHER
(Adapted from “Herding Cats” by Taylor Wells (http://super-mom.com/herding-cats))

My sister just left for college. She is a freshman at the University of Colorado, Boulder; where, judging from her most recent texts, she is having an excellent time. I, on the other hand, am preparing to enter an intensive theater program in two weeks, where I will be working from 7 am to 10 pm every day, seven days a week. I have ten plays to read before then, numerous essays to write, and my entire room to pack up. Needless to say, her tales of weekend fun are a welcomed distraction from the stress I am feeling.
The irony of her choice of school, by the way, is not lost on me. It lies in stark contrast to the tiny, liberal arts college where I will return as a junior this spring, in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country, and gives you an idea of the vast array of differences between us.
To start, I spend my weekends at school drinking hipster, offbeat beers out of glass bottles with other artistes who wear lumberjack shirts with skinny jeans and argue over Chekhov plays. She spends her weekends doing…other things. Not important. What is important is the question that’s been on my mind since our most recent virtual conversation: How could two people so different be related?

I mean, the contradictions between us are pretty much endless.
I eat mostly raw, vegan food. Her favorite meals include some combination of steak, tuna steak, steak fries, and Annie’s buttermilk ranch dressing.

My exercise of choice is yoga, complemented by occasional nature hikes. She was the star of her high school’s soccer and lacrosse teams.

I have brown curly hair and pale skin; she is tan with blond, silky locks. She adores animals; I’m a wimp around big dogs. I traveled to the Edinburgh Theater Festival for my senior trip; she went to Cancun. She’s a Scorpio; I’m a Libra. ‘Nuff said.

Yet despite all our differences, I adore her and love every moment we’re together. Our family is so much more interesting and fun because we are so different. And when I choose to keep my eyes open and avoid slipping into know-it-all mode, Julia teaches me things. A lot of things.

And this week, the lesson is to just chill. Something Julia is very good at. To relax. To go with the flow. To hang out. To sit on the couch and watch TV. To sit on the couch and listen to music. To just…sit on the couch. And do nothing. To go to a giant university a thousands miles away from your home, your family, and your boyfriend, and keep a smile on your face and a skip in your step, trusting that everything will be okay.

Suddenly, reading a few plays doesn’t seem so bad after all.

“By letting it go, it all gets done.” – Lao Tzu

Edited to add: The differences between us are BEAUTIFUL and should be CELEBRATED! This is what Taylor “preaches,” and she most certainly practices it and walks her talk. I love my sister AND I love myself…that’s what I got out of it. Its all good! Love you Taylor!