Dear Amy,

I appreciate the thanks. Don't be afraid, but learn and apply the skills if you are grateful.

When I was young and newly licensed to drive, and so I explored every country road I could find to find some privacy and also test my freedom a little. I was was driving along on backwoods roads, and slowly the roads changed from asphalt to macadam and then to gravel. I wasn't nervous at all, since I felt invulnerable. I even found some great little hidden places just off the road and near a river, secret little beaches to enjoy.

But once I had a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, and of course hadn't changed a tire before, but knew how. Any way, moments later, a pickup truck pulled up, and a farmer got out, and we had a great talk while he talked me through it. Even though I knew how, just him hanging around helped. As he left he said, "You know, country people always stop and help each other out, because even if you know how to fix something, something else might happen, and I reckon company is almost always welcome. Pass it on."

Well, it was a little thing, but a huge moment too. So, I always do, and always will. I hope you do too. Pass it on.

You have your own abilities and knowledge. You learned them from friends and ancestors, and learned some on your own. Keep the old ways alive, and add to the knowledge pool. Pass them on.

You're a mom, and the little and big things you do for your sons, they'll ripple through time, for eons really. That's your legacy. Pass it on.