I first heard these words in the context of a dream.
A woman (me, not me) was with her friend in the midst of a snow storm. The friend died, peacefully. The woman looked at her and thought, she doesn't look like herself. She looks strangely evaporated.
It reminded me of my father when he died. He didn't look asleep. He looked...absent. Strangely evaporated.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
Contemplating four generations
A few days ago - December 26, actually - our nephew and his wife had a baby boy. This baby is the second one born into this generation, and E's baby will be the third, and our first grandchild. It's hard to digest the idea of the adults we think of as children having children of their own.
Becoming a grandmother. I've been a sister, daughter, mother, aunt, wife, friend. When I was in the book store before Christmas I discovered there are books written about being a good grandparent. I don't know why I was surprised -- there are books about everything. But somehow I hadn't thought I would need advice for this. To me the challenge isn't in taking care of an infant, or even in building a relationship with a child. But the idea of taking that next turn in the cycle of life and being at the head of three generations with only a few members left of the previous, fourth, one. Now that's something to write a book about.
My friend SLM (I've decided to follow DM's lead and use initials) is also expecting a grandchild. She says she's "over the moon". I can appreciate that feeling. I'm so looking forward to having a small child in my life again. But images of good-night stories, playing at the beach, wet kisses and little hands are fighting with the reality of long distances and maybe different languages (will CC speak English or Spanish?).
Becoming a grandmother. I've been a sister, daughter, mother, aunt, wife, friend. When I was in the book store before Christmas I discovered there are books written about being a good grandparent. I don't know why I was surprised -- there are books about everything. But somehow I hadn't thought I would need advice for this. To me the challenge isn't in taking care of an infant, or even in building a relationship with a child. But the idea of taking that next turn in the cycle of life and being at the head of three generations with only a few members left of the previous, fourth, one. Now that's something to write a book about.
My friend SLM (I've decided to follow DM's lead and use initials) is also expecting a grandchild. She says she's "over the moon". I can appreciate that feeling. I'm so looking forward to having a small child in my life again. But images of good-night stories, playing at the beach, wet kisses and little hands are fighting with the reality of long distances and maybe different languages (will CC speak English or Spanish?).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
