Marigolds...

What happened?

Actually, I know what happened. I've told the story many times. To others, and to myself. I guess it is still hard to believe that it is true. But, it is.

There she is. Ten years old already. It seems like just yesterday that we were admiring her ruby red lips, right after she was born. And I know she hates to hear that: it seems like just yesterday....

Her smile is so quietly serene. It doesn't tell you how animated she can be. And she can be quite “the ham” when she wants. It doesn't take much encouragement to get her going. In the car, she likes to mimic the lady on the GPS device, telling me where to turn, or not to turn.

Driving around during the holidays, she will interrupt herself to announce loudly: “Christmas Alert!” and point at the decorations that she has spied. Then it becomes a game: she can only announce what she sees on her side of the car, and I get to announce what I see on MY side of the car. And somehow, she awards points for spotting the lights. It doesn't matter how she calculates the points: she always wins anyway!

She came to visit yesterday. Spent time with Mom and Grandma on Mother's Day. She made me a card. A sweetly drawn picture with lots of lavender crayon embellishments. She didn't address the envelope to Grandma, but wrote out my whole name. For some reason, my name intrigues her. I am glad....

She and I went out in the garden to look at all the flowers she helped plant on Easter. She was particularly fond of the marigolds. I offered to let her take one home with her and she jumped at the chance. And so, we went to my potting shelf and picked out a terra cotta pot to put her marigold in.

She chose a little whale. I was pleased to see that she wanted it and I told her why: her great grandpa, my Daddy, loved whales. And I brought him a plant from the coast....planted in that little whale....many years ago. When I told her the story, she held the pot even closer and tighter.

We looked at a lot of pictures, too. Helping her see and know her great grandparents. I want her to know where she comes from, and who she belongs to, too. I want her to be grounded in the history of her family and know what they have done. And I want her to feel closer to those who have passed on already, that she never knew. And we all miss....

And so, she has a little terra cotta whale with a bright orange marigold.....to remind her of who she is.

And how very special she is....