“To Kate Miller – Corcoran and Nick Corcoran, a girl, Zoey, born May 10”
Such a short little notice for such a miracle. It seems the English Language is limited. Lacking from the lexicon of sounds is anything capable of conveying the feeling of holding a granddaughter in your arms for the first time. Or holding any newborn of your life blood for the first time.
I have had the immeasurable joy of doing this four times. Two sons, two granddaughters. I have never been able to capture a fraction of what it felt like. So much promise, so many possibilities, so much love.
And then the great quandary. I would like to provide them with every thing under the sun, but that would not be good for them. I would like to run in front of them and remove every obstacle. But that would not be good for them. I would like to shower them with God, flowers, horses, music, books, pets, and hot fudge. But of course too much of anything will spoil them. So you hold your breath and hope you are up to the task.
Then there is the life of statistics vs your child.
When each of my kids were under the lights for jaundice, all the statistics in the world did not matter. Those were my kids locked up in that silly cubical with the ridiculous eye patches getting a way to early suntan. Wait until they are 18 on their way to Cancun for Spring Break. ( Well, maybe not so good either)
My creative style is pretty simple. I get an idea about what I want to do, and then I forget it. Sometime during a walk, or more annoyingly at two AM fresh from a sound sleep, the idea will just appear. Then it is simply a matter of capturing it on paper. So 10 days ago, I decided to write the perfect story about Sweet Z. Nothing came, because no words will describe the indescribable. How silly to try.
So, in common words, I make the same pledge I made Lydia.
I will never take a moment of our time together for granted. I will never be too busy, too distracted or too impatient to be 100% present for you. You can cry, laugh, throw up on me, invite me to invisible tea parties, play dress up, dress down, play castles or football, I will be there as much as allowed for as long as allowed.