For my daughter, on her 9th birthday

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with 12 comments
dailies

Dear Phoenix Fire,

Today at 5:57 PM I’d just stepped outside the diner Forever The Oriole for data reception. I was acutely aware of your voice behind me at the counter, giggling delightedly with Grandma. I was thinking of you, of course, because you were born at precisely 5:56 PM nine years ago this evening, after a protracted and medically-interventionist labor of about eighteen (very rough) hours.

Obviously I loved you at first sight; I write “obviously” not because that’s the way it always goes but because I’ve directly told you this so many times I don’t need to tell it again. But I want to. I can still see your flushed skin and feel your softly fluttering heart. I can still remember how exactly you smelled because you smell the same way today!  I used to lie next to you in bed in those first days of knowing you and I’d tell you with a frank devastating simplicity, “There’s everyone else in the world, and then there’s you.” Your dad didn’t have everything I had for you, every bit of my fiber and bloodstream and physicality we shared, but he caught up fast. Who wouldn’t? You inspire love wherever you are.

Today as we walked together your hand sought mine and I felt as gleeful and amazed and happy you wanted me and we could be together a while, the same specific joy I felt nine years ago when I held you in my arms.

I’ve written before how much knowing you has shaped me as a person. Mostly you’re just such an at-ease being it’s often guaranteed I am improved by your presence. Your integrity, your compassion, your sedate intelligence and your good-hearted nature are unparalleled in anyone I’ve yet met. It’s not just me who feels that way – every week people are telling me in new ways what a delight you are. I see life through your experience and I see a happy girl who knows she is loved. This is quite a gift for me to witness, as when I was your age I’m not sure I felt so good.

A friend this week said you seemed like an “adult” to her in every way. Yes, I can see what she means, but of course you are very silly and I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this quite sternly. For instance at the restaurant today what was with you and Grandma’s jokes about “King Tut grows butts”? And when I told you to stop wrestling with my mother because these very sour-faced patrons were glaring at me and I was tired of it, you said, “Glare back,” and you did just that. I don’t have the guts you do but I aspire to. Someday.

Of course, you are the funniest person I know even if no, I don’t much go for “butt” jokes. You can screw up your face into any expression and you cast your voice like a spell. When you make jokes I invariably laugh because they’re funny as hell. I can tell when you’re happy and well-cared for when you are quick to laugh at mine. I can tell something is amiss when you scowl at me, although you don’t do much of that lately.

I don’t know how much time we have together but I do know I like drinking up every drop. Thank you for sharing your life with me. Stay as long as you like, leave when you’re ready. Let me know how I can support you in everything you need.

Much love,

Mama

Cobra

Pleased

The other night while we watched a cartoon movie you said, “That’s what I want for my birthday – a giant mechanical wolf!” Well, I’m not sure if that’s in the cards, but we were gratified to see how much you like the scary-looking robotic LEGO cobra Grandma got you. Thanks for not holding it against me that the wolf is not immediately forthcoming.

12 Responses

  1. shelley

    “There’s everyone else in the world, and then there’s you.” – love that.
    Please wish her a happy birthday (late) for me! She’s spectacular.

  2. Heather

    What a lovely tribute! She’s a lucky girl to have such a great mama that is so in tune with her and her brother. Tell her happy belated birthday….mine was the 1st! How cool is that? 🙂

  5. luckychrm

    How truly sweet and wonderful. Thanks to you and Ralph and Nels and Jenny for all you bring to Phoenix and all that she brings to us.

  6. Shannon

    That piece of writing right there is one of the richest gifts Phoenix could receive. What an awesome, frank, true show of love. Now, on to the mechanical wolf!

  7. kellyhogaboomAuthor

    Thank you, ladies. I read this aloud to her last night and she beamed. It wasn’t as demonstrative with my own family, the way our current family is. I wonder if we look like total fucking idiots to other people. It’s a kind of vague wonder though, because seriously.

  11. Spilt Milk

    I’m late to comment but I just wanted to say, what a touching post, so sweet and fierce too. I too loved the line ‘there’s everyone else in the world, and then there’s you’. I suspect most mamas reading this would feel that one down deep. Thanks for sharing.