the birthday story, for my daughter

Once upon a time there was a very beautiful woman who was pregnant.  She waited long months for the child that kicked her insides to kingdom come to be born.   Lo and behold, on the eve of a great snow storm, she felt a few twinges that could not be explained - and typically, the day after the great snow storm, her water broke.

"I TOLD you it was time!" she fretted as she walked through the snow to the waiting ambulance while the babe within her slept, unaware all hell was about to break loose.

After much wailing and screaming and contractions that rivaled 7.0 on the Richter Scale, the babe was born.  And the young mother was tired and the babe was madder than a wet setting hen (but like her mother, she was very beautiful, with a head full of red hair, fair skin, and one eyebrow that covered both eyes).  The mother was distressed that her child was so angry.

"What's wrong, little one?" she asked.

"I was sleeping so well and you woke me UP.  It isn't a school day for me yet, you know.  And who are all these strange people with funny hair that blouses around their heads and no mouths - just a strange patch of blue skin stretched between nose and chin.  Mother, this is NOT what I was expecting. I am not so much angry as mortified.  What planet is this??"

"Well...it's Earth, but by no means is it a perfect world.  You're pretty!"

The babe blushed and said "Aww, thanks.  I like your hair.  It's...normal.  What's my name?"

The mother thought for a few minutes and said - Oh, I can't make up my mind.  And so you are Traci Elizabeth Leigh."

"So many names to choose from," the babe mused.

"But we'll call you Beth, for the sweetest character in the book Little Women."

"Okay, but be it noted that I have my own personality with layers like onion.  I am not a one dimensional character wedged between pages bound in leather. And also, I plan to enjoy  my life, which means I'll run the full gamut of emotions and do what I please - and by the way, I plan to move to Durham in 26 years.  Word in the Universe is that there is a place there called Duke, and I have my eye set on that.  Go Devils!"

And so the child, Beth, grew.  She brought tears to her mother's eyes by bringing sweet bouquets of flowers, hanging upside down from the guide wires outside of their home, by bringingher dead squirrels unearthed from burial because the dogs kept messing with it.  She was a continual delight with infectious laughter and a penchant for slamming doors until they fell off of their hinges.  True to her red hair, she was - a lit match dancing with life.  A tall candle reaching for the sun - and Duke.

Came the day she left her mother for Durham to follow her dreams.  And came the anniversary of her birth yet again this year.  As always, her mother recalled fondly the day Snow Bird Traci Elizabeth Leigh entered the world and and graced it with laughter and tears and passion for all she cares about. 

I won't see you today...but I remember, and in your honor I am eating an entire triple fudge cake.

I love you, kiddo.  Have a wonderful birthday..

Mommy