Dear Little Me, 

Please take some advice. 

Slow down. 

You will grow up. 

I promise. 

Time will march onward like a faithful soldier. 

You can try to stop it,

but there will be nothing to grasp on to.

The years will slip away,

So hold on to a carefree childhood.

Get muddy in the sandbox,

Let your hair turn green from the chlorine,

after a long day's swim in the neighborhood pool. 

Take your hands off of the handlebars 

for just a second, careening down the hill

on a bike that is nearly too small.

Stay up late, whispering in the dark with your girlfriends

so mom and dad don't hear. 

Catch fireflires on a deep blue night. 

Soak up every last morsel

as if it was the last piece of Grandma's cherry pie.

Because school will be there.  

Your husband can wait. 

Bills will find there way to your tiny mailbox.

You can spend your life wishing for college. 

And then hoping for marriage. 

Next praying for children. 

And soon your life has passed you by.

Please take some advice.

You will grow up. 

I promise. 

Just not today.