Birthdays begin in the horizon, approaching slowly as plans are considered, options explored. Anniversaries are another beast. I don’t mean for a wedding, more for a death, or some brutal moment that is best served cold without any fanfare. It was V’s birthday last week, and we celebrated in so many ways. There were moments when she stared at me with those now-nine-year-old eyes and I knew in my heart this was a good one, maybe her best birthday ever. And then, a few days later I understood we have been here for two full years now, and the anniversary of that white knuckle flight had passed quietly, only surfacing because I could not imagine flying
There’s a lot of heartbreak between the lines of this one. I need to go into the archives and read more about the exodus and that trauma.
In the more immediate- happy birthday to V! “Nine is Fine.” I wish someone had warned me that you only really have your children until they’re 10. As you eluded to here, after that, it’s all a wild ride. Might be able to squeak a few more years out before the world and hormones does their number on her but for now, relish the pigtails, the easy amusement, the look in her eyes that still says you wear a cape.
There’s a lot of heartbreak between the lines of this one. I need to go into the archives and read more about the exodus and that trauma.
In the more immediate- happy birthday to V! “Nine is Fine.” I wish someone had warned me that you only really have your children until they’re 10. As you eluded to here, after that, it’s all a wild ride. Might be able to squeak a few more years out before the world and hormones does their number on her but for now, relish the pigtails, the easy amusement, the look in her eyes that still says you wear a cape.
https://youtu.be/P5AuFDHdrrg?si=PLr_O5SkipcvyErX