Life moments

Yesterday was my birthday, so I was already thinking about being older and how do I want the rest of my life to go. Sam kept asking me what I wanted for my birthday and was concerned that she had no present for me. So I told her she was my best present. She’d yell, “No, I’m not Mommy! You’re picking on your little girl!” but she’d be grinning the whole time. She made a beautiful card with flowers glued on and gorgeous zebra and elephant stickers (thank you Carolyn!).

Angelika was able to take Samantha for the afternoon as she took care of her own little boy, baby girl and a friend’s little boy. They played well together, she said, and the game of the day was, “Oh no, Monster!” They’d run into the big box, scream, “Oh no, Monster,” run out of the box to the grass, run in a circle and back in the box again, over and over. Aaron said something about Sam was well able to keep up with the two boys, (no surprise to me) and she was very good at letting the boys know when they were getting too rough for her. I thought that was a nice way of putting ‘bossy baggage’ but they were impressed with her. Good people. And kudos to Angelika for managing all of them so well. Sam was very tired and very happy when we picked her up. She even convinced Aaron to read her a story.

We were out in the afternoon because our friend’s mother died this week and we wanted to attend her funeral. As he daughter stood at the podium to deliver a eulogy, I thought, what do I want my daughter to say about me when I have gone. I did not really know Alex’s mother, so I learned yesterday what an extraordinary life she had. I was seeing her through the eyes of her family, friends and colleagues, and she came through as unique from every lens. Makes me think about my relationship with Sam and how precious it is. How I want it to last for 50 years and more and still have deep respect and love there. How do I make that happen? Still thinking.