When I close my eyes right now, I see the little life that
entered OUR lives and made our family complete.
Jessie Patricia Altieri was born to Marc and Charlotte early on September 26.
The entire
family was in the waiting room getting frequent updates from Marc, eager to lay
their eyes on this new little princess!
Having a granddaughter is special and it IS different. I told Charlotte that when I hold Jessie and
can feel myself being “softer” with her.
She looks at me with her big eyes, looking so wise and I wonder what her
spirit will teach me and what I can pass on to her.
I have always felt a sense of continuity with
all my grandchildren, but as I look at Jessie, I can sense my mother behind me
and my grandmother behind her and my great-grandmother behind her. I hope she will be able to grow and flourish in
our crazy world. I want to protect her from the ugliness and ignorance.
And she is a delight.
Already 2 months old, we watch her face take on its unique features, we
see her daddy’s forehead when she wrinkles it trying to get comfortable.
We see her mother’s dimple as she begins to
respond to our attention with smiles and coos.
We see her brother in her big dark eyes.
Life is sure different with 2 little ones under the age of 2. Marc and Charlotte are a two-person relay
team, making efficient hand-offs as one child needs to nurse and another needs
to have a bath. But they all seem to be
thriving.
My joy is that Jay and I are permitted to have a front row
seat to all of it. Of course Marc and
Charlotte need help and we are both standing outside the front door just
waiting for a chance to provide it. I
have my weekly “Day with Mima” which ensures my own quality time with these
munchkins. How I wish everyone in my
life was as happy to see me as Gino is!
He is my personal fan club, running to the door shouting, "MIMA! MIMA! MIMA!" He
frowns when he thinks I am holding Jessie too much and will come up to me and
say, “Mima, my turn!” or he climbs up next to me, takes my free arm and wraps
it around his shoulders while “we girls” make room for him too.
Jay has his special time too, on Friday
mornings when he goes with Charlotte to take Gino to his swimming lesson. She does not have enough arms to do it all
herself.
I only have to look at my grandson, Gabriel, to remember how
quickly these years pass and they grow.
I don’t know how he got to 15 so fast, but I see the young man in him
emerging and I long for the little boy he once was.
Gabe is my visual reminder to seize the day…to
stay alert in the present…notice and take in what is right in front of me.
This does add richness and peace to my days. If I stay in the present, "right here – right now",
I don’t go wandering into the past memories of loss or regret. Nor do I go tripping into the “what if’s” of
the uncertain future. I am here...now... and
life is good. I was told by a wise
friend years ago that life isn’t complicated…just do the next right thing. So today, I will post this on my blog, take a
shower, make my bed and go pick up Gino at pre-school.
And then there were TWO! Welcome to the world, Jessie Patricia. We celebrate the gift of your life and your presence in ours!
No comments:
Post a Comment