Thursday, July 16, 2009

BURIED TREASURE.

ALONG with several others and most especially our leader, Seth at The Altered Page, I am reposting one of my own favorite blog entries from March 2, 2008:
Every Calendar Day is Special to Someone.

I AM writing this on Oct. 2, 2008 — which would have been my mother’s 86th birthday. She passed away in June 2006.
This morning in Athens, Ga., on Oct. 2, my niece - and my mother's granddaughter - Amy, gave birth to her third child, a boy, Guillermo. The baby has blue eyes — for now, anyway — and so did his great-grandmother.
Today I can feel my mother so close to me on this day - her birthday. I can imagine how excited she would be that the new great-grandchild was born on "her" birthday.
I recall the times I remembered her birthday with a card, or lunch or a sleepover at her house. I remember forgetting her birthday once! (It's OK. She forgot mine once, too.)
I close my eyes and I can feel her arms around me and the special "Mom kisses" she would give.
I can remember the last time she walked into my house and I remember the evening she left it.
We all wish, of course, that my mother could have witnessed another great-grandchild in her "portfolio." There aren't many who love babies as much as she did.
"My goodness, what your dad and I started," she used to say. They had seven children. My mother told me my grandmother (her mother-in-law - whom she loved dearly) asked her one time, "Margaret, how are you going to take care of all these children?"
And she stubbornly answered, "I'll feed them and love them." That's exactly what she did, day in and day out without fail.
It’s odd how certain dates have a way of pulling us back in time. As the post title says, every calendar day is special to someone. It might be a birthday or an anniversary of a glad time or a sad time - a beginning or an ending.
Now we've been blessed with these wonderful grandchildren and we are so lucky to have them all healthy, smart, loving people - and we have our parents to thank for that last part, I think.
Amy's paternal grandfather, William, passed away very recently on Sept. 13. That was a really sad day for everyone. William also had blue eyes.
I will always think of this new baby, "Gil," born on Oct. 2, with the bluest of eyes, as a link in the generations and a reminder that miracles keep on happening everywhere we look.
I'll also remember that the saddest day on the calendar to me might be the happiest day to someone else. This is a happy day. Mom was born today and Gil was born today. Welcome to the world, Gil, from Great-Aunt Jeanne! I know Javi and Isa and Daddy are waiting eagerly to get you and Mommy home.
NOW: Here is Gil today with his eyes just as blue and the joy on his face reflecting the love that comes his way. This boy will grow up to be somebody, you betcha! With all the spark, good humor and kindness that marked his great-grandmother, Margaret, and his grandfather, Billy -- all three with blue eyes filled with mischief and stars - femminismo

13 comments:

Mary S. Hunt said...

gil and your mom, his greatgrandma will have a shared link added from the genes..you can have a lovely day in reflective thoughts to mom and celebrate his journey each year. he looks like a happy adventurous little boy
so nice to have really met a part of you
from the list of seths buried dig..

Ned said...

Thanks for posting this, sis..

mansuetude said...

what a beautiful beaming with joy boy !

a wonderful tribute and post; can i have one of those cina buns now? they must be out of the oven by now!!!

peace.

3rdEyeMuse said...

this was a new treasure to me, Jeanne ... and I am soooo glad you chose to share it. :)

... it's really true, too ... every day IS special to someone ... not a bad reminder.

Unknown said...

Great words to ponder and a cutie of a grandson too!

Candace said...

This was one of my favourites of yours, too. I miss My mother also. She would have loved her great grandkids, My grandnephews and niece.
That Gil is really something! You can see the personality and joy beaming from his face. How wonderful that Gil has your mother's birthday, too.

Have a great weekend, Pal!
Candace in Athens.

Anonymous said...

you know,

I had a lovely time reading this the FIRST time.
I found you through Lisa Hoffman, and it's been that long...

a wonderful choice for buried treasure.

Heather said...

Lovely post with lovely memories. Your Mom looks and sounds a very special person. Beautiful babies to ensure the loving and caring goes on for another generation. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment.

deb said...

My youngest was born on Sept 11th, it makes her so sad that her birthday id not a happy day any more, so thanks for your reminder that all days have joy for someone.

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

A very lovely and touching post, thank you for sharing it. We lost our almost 17 yr old son ten and a half years ago. We feel blessed to have connections (signs if you will) from him lots of days. I think our loved ones (here and absent) are never really all that far away, Love is a powerful thing.

*jean* said...

what a dear, sweet, touching post....good one to re-post as we could all use a little remembrance of miracles....

Seth said...

Such a touching post. Your mother seemed to be quite the special person. I am really happy that you decided to be a part of this collaboration and that this was the post you chose. Really wonderful!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

This is downright touching. I can only imagine how you must miss your mother.