Tomorrow my first born will be fourteen. Fourteen. I keep thinking of it in terms of how little time I have left with her, that day-to-day time that allows me to quietly watch her. I swear I can see her growing, like time-lapse photography. I see her cheeks rising like the tide; her body lengthening as the afternoon shadows; her mind wrapping itself around the world, selectively embracing and carefully rejecting theories and philosophies she finds reasonable or repugnant.
She has a wonderful balance of compassion and justice, logic and emotion, value and frugality, of faith and intellect. She was the first to fill my womb; nurse from my breast; the first one in whom I saw my own eyes and toes, heard my own laugh. In seconds breathed slowly over years, months, days, minutes, I am seeing them become her own distinct characteristics, changing from pieces of me and her father to the wholeness of her.
And to be a whole person is what I most desire for her. Happy Birthday, Baby. I love you more than I will ever be able to express.
Posted by Rae at July 28, 2005 12:21 PMYes indeed Happy Birthday E!!! It has been an absolute pleasure to watch you grow from a tiny babe I loved to hold to a wonderful big sister that is amazing to see teach the younger ones new things. I am looking forward to seeing you get even more beautiful than you already are (if it is possible that is)! I so loved being 14 the age of discovery and very fond memories. Hope you have a great day!
Love Aunt Sally
So proud this day as I was in the begining. What a great Girl with outstanding Character. A priveledge to be Daddy.
Posted by: R at July 28, 2005 08:16 PMHappy Birthday E!
Posted by: Altar Girl at July 29, 2005 08:35 AMThat was absolutely beautiful Rae. Your daughter sounds like an amazing person!
Happy birthday E!!
Posted by: Jenn at July 29, 2005 11:36 AMSally, AG, and Jenn- thank you :D
R- yes, tremendous character, indeed.
Posted by: Rae at July 29, 2005 01:12 PMHappy Birthday! I can't believe I’ve been an uncle for 14 years. I am positive you are becoming a beautifully knowledgeable young adult, but I encourage you to cherish the dwindling years you have left as a child. You will be in need of these memories as you age, to remind your spirit that your not as old as your aching body may tell you. I didn't really get to know your mother until she was 30, I hope I don't have to wait that long before getting to know the person you have become, but until then I will always love my first little niece.
Posted by: nick at July 29, 2005 05:48 PMsis, send me a list of everyones birthday's including yours cause i can never remember the exact date, i am so much like mom in this way and i am bound to beat it. it's about i time i grew up and started thinking about everybody else. beside i made alot of moola at work this week and now i can afford to buy people presents. i think part of my not remembering birthdays is that i don't cherish my own birhtday when it comes around, it seems more for everyone else that is so glad that i exist to tell me. but once i looked at it this way i like birthdays more. i am rambling so i will stop now
Posted by: nick at July 29, 2005 05:53 PM
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HammerHead
