The Delightful Whirlwind

She was told it would be in her best interest if she quit while she was ahead. She replied but I am behind that is why I must keep going. Her father looked at her and realized she was serious. This is who Maya is. She is born to be ahead and if she is not ahead she is not quitting before she is ahead. She is competitive to the nth degree. She hates losing and will give it her all even when defeat is obvious. Defeat today is preparation for victory tomorrow. She enjoys her body and handles herself like Jill the Jock. She enjoys competing with the boys in ultimate Frisbee because they are tougher competition. The boys love her infectious enthusiasm and her lithe body but they do not enjoy losing to her.
She is an adventurer. Both in China and New York she would hit the streets at full tilt rushing ahead even though she did not know where we were going. Destinations be damned we were going to have an adventure. There is a world to be seen and she is behind and must catch up. Part of being an adventure gal she is also a stimulus junkie. Always wanting to be on the run. She enjoys life to the fullest. Her laugh is a love hate thing. You love the infectious enthusiasm in the laugh but at full throttle it is ear piercing and all consuming. When she is in this mode expect to miss the next line or two of the movie or conversation you are in.
She is very social. When we returned to China to adopt her sister. Our group of adopting families numbering over twenty would each morning gather with other hotel guests in the elegant and huge dining room. Maya would visit every table of our group saying good morning and asking how their newly adopted child was doing. Twenty minutes later she would join us for breakfast.
She is very bright if not sometimes too concrete in her thinking. They call them Mayaism things she says either before she thinks or takes a little too literal. The first Mayaism came when we were on a rural road and passed the local mail carrier and she wondered aloud how they could possibly be delivering the mail. In her head they did not stop at each mail box but as they drove down the road without stopping they opened the mailbox and threw the mail in the mail boxes closed the mailbox without ever slowing down. How else could they do it she ask.
She works hard. Not many are smarter than she but she will catch up by hard work if she is behind. She is the great organizer. If it’s organizing an event or her studies she has a plan. Once her teacher who had only started teaching that year was proud when she found online the best organized notes for their chemistry class from a study site. Maya sheepishly raised her hands and said they are my notes. The teacher a little embarrassed said sheepishly in return, ‘Yea, that would make sense.’
She is the goddess of DIYs. When she “slows” down she is found crafting. Papercutting, origami, knitting, weaving you name it is her domain. She loves to cook and bake. All of these things make her popular with her family, friends, and sometimes just passer-byers are the beneficiaries of her creations.
She likes to have her way. And if you have a problem with that you first need to dodge the steam engine Maya at full throttle coming at you. She is polite but persistent in her resistance. When she slows down or you make her realize she is behind she will give way. But you always see after the giving way the planning ahead she is doing not to lose this argument again.
And now this bundle of steam is full throttle heading out in to the world. She walks fast ahead even though she might not know where she is going. She and those with her will enjoy the adventure and the sound of her laughter. She may fall behind but know she is working hard and planning to outpace you. After all, it is not in her best interest to quit while she is ahead.
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