I had an inkling that you would be a girl, but didn’t dare believe it until I saw you. You were very tiny with lots of dark hair and pink skin. Although you were due on December 12th, your mommy’s doctor began telling her in the middle of November that you would be born early. I wondered if I would meet you on November 29th. Then we could share our birthdays.
Our house was already busy, as your whole family had been living with Grandpa and me for months while they were working on their house. Thanksgiving was on November 26th. We added Nanny and Papa, Aunt Jackie and Uncle Aron, Uncle Bob and Aunt Esta, and Aunt Cecily and Uncle Jason with their new puppy, Charli. We had a festive meal and joked and talked for hours. New for me this year was the cranberry sauce I made using my friend Susan’s recipe. I’ve been making orange and strawberry jello mold with mandarin oranges and sour cream for thirty-eight years, and nobody seems to want me to stop. Aunt Jackie and Uncle Aron were staying with us since they were visiting from New York. Uncle Jason and Aunt Cecily decided that they would sleep on an aero bed. They didn’t want to miss the fun.
Saturday was a busy day. Your mommy, Simon, Aunt Jackie and I went to see cousin Delila in the “Nutcracker” ballet. In the evening, your brothers stayed home with a babysitter while the grown ups went out to a restaurant for dinner. On Sunday, we had a delicious brunch. Your mommy had a hair appointment in the afternoon. She is always pretty, but she looked especially good when she came home.
At eight p.m., we hugged Aunt Jackie and Uncle Aron “good-bye”. They got into their car to drive back to Brooklyn. I began cleaning out the refrigerator and doing the loads of laundry with the tablecloths, napkins, towels and sheets. I got into my bed at 11:00 p.m., but just couldn’t fall asleep. At midnight, I could hear your Mommy pacing back and forth on the floor above my bedroom. At 1:00 a.m., your daddy knocked on my door. It was time to go to the hospital. I was dressed in two minutes. I had had my clothes ready for days. I brushed my teeth and ran downstairs. Grandpa would be with Simon, Asher and your dog, Fiona.
Your daddy and I were in a hurry because Asher had come so fast. We didn’t know that you would take your time, that you would arrive at 10:22 the next morning. You came into the world in a mellow way. You were not in a rush. The perfect shape of your head showed no sign of a struggle. Your mommy had a huge smile on her face and couldn’t wait to snuggle with you. Your daddy was weepy with happiness. I was tearful as I watched the nurse weigh and measure you Miriam, my first granddaughter.
