Regarding Josephine No. 2

Josephine is my only granddaughter, my oldest daughter Angelique’s daughter, and my new lease on life.

When Josephine arrived I was 51 years old and I never thought I would see any grandchildren. Oh my God, how much we all loved this little girl. A little girl who on the day she was born was so tiny and looked so much like her father that it surprised me. Because I thought I would have seen my daughter in her too, but I didn’t. But it didn’t matter, I loved her totally.

Today Josephine is two and of course she is pure magic. If it is dark outside and her parents are carrying her in the house it looks like they are holding a lantern because there is such a bright light. I always want to say ‘here, I will hold the lantern’ until I realize that it is a small child, my small granddaughter in fact.

What a funny thing to have the past and present sitting right here, right now. It uplifts me to see that my little girl should be sitting there with a little girl of her own. It uplifts me to see that my little girl is running and laughing with a little girl of her own. It uplifts me to see that my little girl is reading to her little girl that at the age of two looks just like my little girl did at the age of two.

I have never forgotten much of what it felt like to have my own little girl, but boy oh boy, seeing my daughter with Josephine brings the memories back in spades.

Without a doubt I am immersed in one of the deepest most beautiful love stories of my life. I think of Josephine when I get up in the morning and I think of Josephine when I fall asleep. So, yes, I am over the blue moon that she was born under to be her grandmother. If you want to check out the wonder of when our girl came to us please do so at http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com/2008/06/regarding-josephine.html

Josephine sweeps us off our feet. Her gasps of wonder, fun, and sheer pleasure remind me of a simpler time. They are hers for sure but they can’t help but remind me of the gasps of wonder, fun, and sheer pleasure that were her Mama and her Auntie Naddie and her Uncle Nate’s when they were small children.

We have been asking Josephine for some time how old she is going to be and she always says two. We then say how many sisters does your Dad have and she says two. We then ask her what 10 minus 8 is and she says two. What is the square root of blah blah and she says two. I know a total genius.

When Josephine comes over to play with me and she grabs my hand to hold, it seems as though they are the same small hands that use to clutch me long ago, dragging me upstairs and downstairs.

GrandChild

Child of my child,
Heart of my heart,
Your smile bridges the years between us –
I am young again discovering the world
through your eyes.
You have the time to listen
And I have the time to spend.
Delighted to gaze at familiar,
loved features, made new in you again.
Through you, I’ll see the future
Through me, you’ll know the past
In the present we’ll love one another
As long as these moments last.

~~ Unknown ~~

She is my only granddaughter, my oldest daughter’s daughter, and my new lease on life. Josephine thank you for the privilege.

Happy 2nd Birthday Grandma’s bestest girl.

Happy Birthday Josephine, love Grandma, Grandpa, Mama, Daddie, Auntie Naddie, Uncle Chuck, and Uncle Nate.

*artwork by Kelly Vivanco