She’s Hit “Double Digits”

I remember when I turned 10 - my parents made a really big deal about "double digits." My niece Tessa just turned 10 which frankly blows my mind. She is our side's only grandchild and my only niece and I love her fiercely. I don't get to see her as often as I'd like, but I know she's happy, safe, warm, has a full belly and is getting a good education, I also know she's a huge animal lover which I'd love to believe is my influence! In 8 short years she'll be 18 and will be able to step into that booth and choose who she wants to lead, perhaps she'll be on the ticket one day. Until that time everything I fight for is for Tessa and all the young girls out there who right now need us to step up and push for a change in leadership. Tessa is as independent as they come, as stubborn as her mom and aunt, as challenging as her grandfather and as curious about the world as her grandmother was. She's all the tough parts of each of us along with every inch of the good. She's smart and sweet, funny and kind. She loves her friends and she loves to read. She smiles and your heart melts. She deserves, like every kid out there to live in a country where she's respected for who she is, who she loves, how she lives her life and how she leads her life. When I cast my vote this year she'll be front and center in my heart and in my mind, I'll be voting like her life depends on it, because it does.