The beauty in a braid....and the yummy in an ice cream cone!

How many shades of blonde are twisted and tucked and 

finally coaxed into this braid, 

how lovely, how simple, how long can I gaze, studying how the hair,

so many strands so unruly at first, then carefully gathered by a mother's hand

into a darker collection at the nape of her neck, where brown hair hides

amongst the blonde.  

Somehow

the braid emerges from there, now straight and well mannered, dropping 

down onto her small back, secured with a yellow band

(that I may have even held in my hand when I was there),

a spray of gold emerging into the light.  

...............

And then...ice cream, the just reward for enduring such fussiness!

 

Best friends for now

Hard to imagine that it's only been four and a half years

when she arrived in this world, with no idea about

friendship or love, about holding hands and walking

down a street with her bestie.

We don't know if this particular friend will endure

next year or next week, even, as friends seem to flow through

our lives like sand through fingers that open under a 

different sun, on a different day, but this day,

their hands embraced, no doubt shared secrets 

and whispers, little girls on a walk in the neighborhood,

mom or dad close behind, but out of earshot. 

Mentoring as a Life's Work

The veins on my hands stand out

there is no disguising age, their wisdom and experience

gained in the infinite variety of touch over decades.

they know how to sooth a feverish forehead, or caress

a cheek, they have handled scientific equipment and 

penned letters, typed on a Selectric for a thesis so long ago.

they have settled into the gentle rolling of dough this day,

a new student four years old, learning to make baguette,

so many tasks are not to be done anymore, only the

gentlest ones, the ones to guide, ever so gently, the 

ones who want to learn.  

Love, smiles and a red rubber ball for her birthday

who could have imagined such a birthday 36 years later

after the wonder of you, arriving with a full head of dark hair

and "chubby cheeks!" a girl!  

who could have imagined you, now a mother, so natural,

a scholar and wife, a daughter who I watch with wonder,

striding with confidence in this crazy world, stopping 

everything to smile and laugh at the little blonde girl

with newly trimmed bangs, I could never have imagined

that 36 years later I would feast my eyes and ears on

this scene, which quickly devolved into a view of 

your little girl's legs flailing in the air as she rolled on

her rubber ball, your laughter ringing joyously in

my ears. 

Being in the body

she is not thinking of her future or

what to wear to tomorrow, she is not 

thinking of Elsa or Melodie, or of 

mom or dad, or Felix, or ...anything.

she is not thinking she is in her body

moving through space on her new bike

her feet snuggled into her rain boots,

her cape resting loosely on her shoulders

she does not have to think about anything

her tummy is full, she is loved, her clothes fit

and she is riding through the air, her wheels 

spinning on the concrete at the park.

The joy of being together, the sorrow of saying good-bye

building snowmen and catching iron filings,

a magnet suspended from a string

the blackberry branch bending 

gracefully towards the water.

I am awakened, so many times,

to hold her hand, bathed in a purple

hue, the sound of waves.  

Nana and Grandpa Tom, Opa and Mimi,

four is barely enough for this Princess

her hair blowing in the icy wind,

Bella straining at the leash as she

shuffles along in flowered rain boots,

and then, she is gone, the house echoes

of silence, colorful toys put away, 

joy has left us and I feel an ache

in my heart, the sorrow of saying

good-bye.

Just reach up, even if it's not perfect

She was fine with it, in her striped dress 

with the pink ribbon

So what if it wasn't the perfect floating orb

like our very own sun beaming down at us

that day, in the park

a moment ago, it was cloudy and chilly.

the long legged ballerina teacher

made everything look so easy, her toes

pointed as she instructed her small charges

in the park that day, where the sun was shininng,

where only a moment ago, clouds hung

low in the sky.

The big yellow slide

I was right behind her, and she waited

for me at the bottom, her arms open and

welcoming.

Mimi! She cried, and I will never forget

that energy, that way of being in the world,

the world of the big yellow slide, the one that

seemed so frightening and high

so recently.

every day she climbs a bit higher as does

my confidence in her.

I am right behind her, watching her and

learning from her, 

who says that the young must learn 

from the old.

Just say yes - Mira's wisdom

Just say yes,

it takes longer

some more time to hold Mimi's hand

and look for puddles at each crosswalk

a few more footprints to mark my passage,

and Mimi's

we let the cars go by, the ones patiently waiting

for me, Mimi waves them across

she said yes

our last walk from OpaMimi daycare

towards home, to MamaPapa and Baby Brother,

Felix.

At dinner, Mama told me that she pushed out

Felix with muscles and I ponder its meaning.

I only know that it's important. 

Just say yes and we will be late,

Mimi and I are so happy for  few more minutes

together. 

Pick the largest apple, carry band-aids

Pick the biggest apple

(that hardly fits in your chubby hands)

(only babies need it sliced up)

Start chomping

(a narrow chomp, a line, that extends)

the full 360 from beginning to end.

(Examine and verify). 

Put aside until later when hunger strikes.

Keep band-aids handy, as needed. 

Home-made cough drops

lemon, blueberries, honey

love

heals all

a journey of 4000 weeks

a moment in these 4000 weeks,

a life, my life, next to her life,

just started, so fresh and full of questions

What is that, Opa?  What are those white things up there?

What is in your backpack, Mimi?  How do I peel these eggs?

and such clear direction, I want to go the beach. No, I don't want

to eat lunch now.  Let's go to the waterfall. Carry me.  

each moment for her is unsullied by the past and the future,

a moment in time, valuable and immediately now,

I learn from her, so much further along in my 4000 weeks,

we must learn from the young.

A fork, a knife and a Dad

although it was a minor miracle for Dad

 to dine with a two-year-old,

it was yet more of a miracle to have metal silverware in hand.

the tines of the fork reflecting in the smooth surface of the knife.

Dad's arm around me, more for his comfort than mine,

flowers making a beautiful backdrop for Mom.

I am too busy to read the menu, I am happy

just like this.