As Kelly so eloquently stated, we are the light of friendship. There was not another light mentioned during closing ceremony that better suited the character of the Portola Ninja Cows. And as I watched the Candlelight Ceremony, I was so proud to know that Kelly represented us not just as a city, but as a friendship. One friendship, that trickled through all of us and lingered in the captured photographs and exhausted Bibles and Battle Pouches.
I will never forget the strength, courage, spirit, or simple kindness that these girls placed upon me in just a week. In one week, I learned what it meant to be brilliant, to be funny, to be honest, to be emotional, to be caring, to be silent, loud, supportive, determined. Most of all though, I learned what it meant to be vulnerable and open.
Vulnerability is not a synonym for weakness, but rather a stepping stone on our Ninja Cow trot towards strength and worth. By being vulnerable, we invested ourselves in foreign places and ideas. We faced failure as well as success. We stood against the loud and accepted Burbank Butterflies, and knew that we’d all rather be silent but together in our own place. In our vulnerability, we found the friendships of each other.
Portola Ninja Cows, you have forever changed my life. I am incredibly lucky and grateful to have had the opportunity to meet such confident, strong, intelligent, and beautiful people. Thank you for letting me know you. Every day, I will be inspired by the memories and friendships all 27 of you have given me. Sparkle fingers for everyone.
