Dear Chicago,
I have never been to visit you, but within your limits now lives one of my life's most precious things. Her name is Taylor and she is sunshine and giggles and everything good. She is 20 going on 75 going on 6 and every day of her life is an adventure.
She loves Jesus more than anything else in the whole of the universe (even more than pizza) but she is still learning about Him. So, provide friends who will encourage her, and give her a quick punch in the throat if her life gets crazy and she needs one. Let her love you like Jesus would because that's all she really wants in life.
You have tall buildings and I need you to promise to be kind to her as she climbs on them and takes pictures from them and risks her life to do hoodrat things on them.
You have pizza. Right now, her favorite is pineapple and cheese slices that are as big as her head. You're more about that deep dish life, but she adapts quickly! So, I need you to feed her all the pizza she could ever dream of, OK, Chicago?
I need you to provide fun hills and slick surfaces for her to longboard down when she has had a hard day, OK? To her, a long boarding session is a warm hug and since I am not there to make her cupcakes and yell at her for being all introverted and sad, I need you to let her longboard all over, OK?
Neither one of us does "girly" well. In fact, before her, I pretty much avoided it forever. Then, Taylor came into my life and refused to allow me to accept "lonely" as normal. She introduced me to all of my new favorite people in Texas, and I am so excited for her to love on the people of your fine city. But, know, Chicago, sometimes Taylor gets really sad for no reason. Sometimes there isn't anything else to do but give a little attitude right back and then go bring her pancakes. (Leave off the butter.)
You're a mess, Chicago with the murders and gang violence and whatnot, but you aren't allowed to hurt her, OK? If you hurt her, there is a whole slew of folks here in DFW that will rip your throat right out.
Today, I told her dad that there is something about Taylor that demands your best self. She brightens up the worst days and makes good days become the most memorable of your life. She loves adventure, basketball, and Being as an Ocean. She makes the real you better, just by being a part of your life.
Now you, Chicago, get to have the immense privilege of having her with you.
So, be better, Chicago.
Be better because Taylor Tippett is the best.
Be happy because Taylor Tippett is sunshine.
Be hoodrat because Taylor Tippett is hoodrat.
Finally, my dearest TipTup, Be rad. Eat pizza. Never change. and Guard your heart. For real.
With all of my love,
Ashlee Walworth
Songs of the blog:
Let it Go- Idina Menzel
Dear G-d- Being as an Ocean
Walls- Emery
Burn this City- Cartel
Acquired in Heaven- Beautiful Eulogy
