13

Eva “turned” 13 yesterday, and that’s what the day she was born seems like, yesterday.  We all gathered for her birth.  The day was scheduled in advance, so even Uncle Mike could make the trip from California to be on hand like he had two years prior when Brady was born.

Her birth was uneventful.  Everything went as planned.  The smooth transition was made in large part because of her trail blazing brother.  His reluctance to be born, helped everyone plan for Eva’s arrival.  While her birth was relatively uneventful, her life has been nothing but.  She marches to her own drummer, and like I’ve said before, sometimes she’s the whole band.  She’s proven, once again, that parents can have children raised in similar ways that turn out decidedly different.  That’s a good thing.

Eva has a multitude of talents and interests.  She’s a dancer, singer, athlete, explorer, artist, baker, chef, equestrian, shopper, magician, story teller, and friend.  She does it all and is enjoying her journey.

More important than her talents is her heart.  Her’s is huge.  She’s inciteful and kind way beyond her years.  When I lost my friend, Jim, she sat two seats from me in the funeral home during the service.  As I sobbed, her ten year old self reached across and held my hand.  It was just what I needed at just the right time.

When I took her to her riding lesson a few weeks ago, we had a wonderful conversation on our way home.  We were sharing a moment discussing our secret of Uncle Mike’s and Aunt Kate’s baby.  While we spoke we discussed her future.  She plans to go to college, travel for a year after graduation, get a job, then married, and hopes a set of twin girls are her first born.  The twins should be followed up with single birth boys.  I’ve forgotten the names we discussed, but she’s thought about that too.  She offered up another observation that she’s obviously considered.  “It will be ok if the twins are boys, or a boy and a girl, but I think it would be hard to be the only boy with three sisters.” Me too.

I believe each of our lives is a series of moments.  Some are remembered while others are forgotten as quickly as they occur.  If we’re lucky, we remember more than we forget.  I’ve gathered a few of Eva’s moments to share with you.