Every year at about this time I realize that my older daughter is having a birthday and every year I have trouble believing it.
It seems like just yesterday I held her tiny body, barely minutes old, in one arm as I walked around the delivery room, her gorgeous eyes wide open, searching.
Those amazing eyes would quickly learn how to look at me in just the right way, disarm me and cajole me.
Those amazing eyes will make even the saddest person smile and it seems can still strike fear into her younger sister!
It seems like only yesterday I paced with her in my arms, what seemed like hours, when she was colicky - which seemed like every night.
It seems like only yesterday that she would put on her ballet outfit to entertain.
It seems like only yesterday she learned to talk. At first the notion of having an eight-month-old baby that could talk seemed remarkable – until it was realized she was not going to stop talking!
I’m glad she hasn’t.
It seems like just yesterday she tried to runaway from home, claiming I was a tyrant.
It seems like just yesterday I sat by her hospital bed with all kinds of tubes coming out of her - the result of a misdiagnosed case of appendicitis.
She was only 10.
I knew she would be just fine when she asked if she could write down questions for the surgeon and the first question was, “Why didn’t you operate earlier?”
It seems like just yesterday she graduated from high school, just yesterday she fell in love for the first time, just yesterday she left home to begin a life of her own.
In a few days my older daughter will be a year older and I will be the richer with another year of memories.
Happy birthday goof number one.
-Quesnel Observer