2008 May 06 Archive at Jenny On the Spot

Dear Olivia,

That is what I wanted to command you to do on your birthday. I close my eyes. I pray this vision of you on your sixth birthday is seared into the “forever” part of my memory:

You were walking down the Sunday School hallway at church. You and G. were walking shoulder to shoulder. Your pink, sparkly giggles bounced off the walls. Your smiles were as big and as spectacular rainbows. You were giddy… overwhelmed… pleased as punch. You practically hovered above the ground due to the Power of the Awesomeness of Turning 6. You were wearing new birthday gear: a pink headband with girlie-colored polka dots, 2 black-flower-shaped-clips with “diamonds”, both of your new necklaces, a ring, an oversized $5 gold lame’ purse stuffed with your new felt coloring tablet, a swirly 4 color dress, pink flip-flops with sparkles, a missing top-front tooth, AND newly pierced ears. Looking at you would make the Disney corporation green with envy - because, little girl - You. Were. IT. If ever there was “money”, girl, YOU were “money”. I’ll explain later…

I remember looking down… watching you giggle with your friend. I knew I was frantically taking in fleeting precious moments I would never embrace again. I couldn’t breathe in deep enough nor look hard enough to keep your excitement of “Being Six”… frozen in time. As I embraced the flutter of you girls chatting and giggling, you spouted with such ovewhelming spirit,