"I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old...I'll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk 'till rising sun." Lyrics from "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" by John Ylvisaker
A letter to my grandson...
Dear Oliver,
Early Saturday morning, Feb. 19, 2011, you were getting restless to make a grand entrance.
Although you really didn't know me, you probably had heard my voice many times as your mommy, daddy and I marveled over the thought of you.
Driving to Sioux Falls, the formations of birds, floating effortlessly north, decorated the overcast sky with the sign of new life. Watching them, I pondered how this day has changed.
It started as any old Saturday - sleeping in, rousing to let the dogs out,
brewing tea and eating breakfast at the kitchen table.
After receiving the phone call from your daddy, the day quickly transformed to a magical holiday, a crimson Christmas, an illuminating Easter, a spectacular birthday.
Entering the hospital and ascending to the third floor, I quickly became Visitor 3545.
Here is what I wrote in my journal before your arrival.
Today is the day you will be born and every step I take, I inch closer to you.
Every action leading to your birth seems like slow motion: packing my bags, calling the dog sitter, leaving the house, loading the car, driving 75 miles north across wintry rolling fields.
Everything carries me in a glad cadence to your new life.
As a drum beat, the pace of your heart on the monitor is a rhythmic melody
leading to the sweet sound of your borning cry.
Yes, the day quickly transformed to a magical holiday, a crimson Christmas, an illuminating Easter, a spectacular birthday - your birthday, Oliver.
A heart full of joy and love,
Grandma
2011 © Copyright Paula Damon. A resident of Southeast South Dakota, Paula Bosco Damon is a national award-winning columnist. Her writing has won first-place in competitions of the National Federation of Press Women, South Dakota Press Women and Iowa Press Women. In the 2009 and 2010 South Dakota Press Women Communications Contest, Paula's columns took five first-place awards. To contact Paula, email pauladamon@iw.net, follow her blog at http://my-story-your-story.blogspot.com/ and find her on FaceBook.
