Thursday, March 28, 2013

Happy Birthday Beloved Girl

Age 4 going on 5

The moment she was born, I felt this sense of relief, like a long slow breath released, and a recognition. She was here. The doctor placed her scrunched up little form on my chest, and I traced the whorl of hair at the top of her forehead with my finger and felt the deepest peace. She is, indeed our peacemaker, the one who can insert a light comment to dissipate tension, as she did just last weekend, when my son and I clashed over a certain tone of voice in the airport, and then on the plane I tried to explain to him what in his tone had so offended me, and he replied by explaining how my tone had also offended him, and then we both apologized stiffly, our girl sitting in the seat between us smiling serenely, almost beatifically, watching it all. And then as we sat in righteous huffy silence, her brother and her mother, she put an arm around each of our shoulders and said, "There, there, now don't we all feel heard," as if we were two years old and learning to use our words, and it made us all burst out laughing, even her dad who was across the aisle and refusing to get embroiled in any of it.

Age 18 going on 19

One of her aunts likes to say she is like water, cool and soothing, flowing around and through the rough spaces, refreshing everything. We feel so nourished by her presence. This child knows, above all else, how to make a person feel loved. She does this magnificently. And today she turns 19 years old. We love you, our dear sweet girl. There is not another soul in this world like you and we are so abundantly blessed to be your family. May your most wonderful dreams be realized now and forever, our darling girl. Amen. 





20 comments:

  1. She's such a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday!

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  2. Happy Birthday to your Beautiful "Baby" Girl.
    I can see everything that you describe in her eyes. And I'm always hoping that my girl turns out just like her.
    Your Friend, m.

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    1. Thank you, Mark! And your Claire wields her own magic already!

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  3. And aren't they just born with their beauty and their gifts? She has both in abundance. I wish her all the very best as she is perched here on the edge of adulthood, as she flows like water and light through this world.

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    1. Ms. Moon, flowing like water and light. I love that! Thank you.

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  4. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!

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    1. Thank you, Kathleen! I will pass on your good wishes!

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  5. Lurking out to say Happy Birthday, to her (but also to you right!). I can't wait to see what she has in store for the world, but if I ever have a daughter, I'd like to talk to her the same way you do of your girl! She's so beautiful, inside, and out (gorgeous really!).
    Wishing her more happiness and success.

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    1. I love when you delurk, Miss A. Thanks for the kind words and generous thoughts about my girl.

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  6. Beautiful then, even more so now. Happy birthday to your wonderful daughter.

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    1. Mel, she is darling. thanks for the birthday wishes, on her behalf.

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  7. ……….. •*¨`*•.☆ .•*¨`*•…………..
    Wishing Her the HAPPIEST Birthday Ever!!
    ✿•*¨`*•. (¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯) .•*¨. . . ✿•*¨`*•.¸ (¯`v´¯)¸.•´*¨`*•✿ . . . .
    ….………………….. •.¸.•………………………

    Every family needs a peacemaker. They are wonderful people.

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  8. happy birthday, angella's beautiful daughter!
    i just came into the house; the skies are absolutely alive with birdsong.
    i feel like the universe is somehow grander, fuller, more generous today than in months and months. and, silly me, i thought it was just plain old spring.
    now, i understand; it is a great wave of rejoicing, come all the way from NY!

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    1. Susan, what an absolutely wonderful comment! I'm going to send it to my daughter, in whom I truly am rejoicing! Hugs, friend!

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  9. Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl!

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  10. Do you ever look at your beautiful daughter and think to yourself, "We created you!" She is gorgeous -- it sounds like both inside and out. Happy Birthday to her! Sweet Jo

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