Learning of Importance

One whole month.

A month away from home

at the young age of six.

Homesickness crossed my mind,

I'm sure,

but no recollection in my memory.

What is recalled

is a mixture

of that summer and the eleven following.

I learned the proper terms of sailing.

I was made stronger through rock climbing.

I showed endurance in playing water polo.

The terms learned faded from memory.

My muscles weakened back to normal.

When treading water, I stop,

running out of desire.

What really is important

stayed

and will forever.

I learned to laugh at myself,

how to establish friendships,

and that Character Counts.

Most of all,

how to say goodbye.

We all did not know if it was the last time

we would see each other;

if we would be able to maintain our close connection.

From New Mexico to Puerto Rico,

we came from all over.

But after just one short month,

we had another home

and a second family.

We were not only best friends,

but sisters.

The future was unknown,

but we smiled in the tears.

We knew

that even if we did not return a year later,

we had made an imprint on each other.