Once upon a time, on a cloudless and splendid Sunday in May-
a tiny boy child was born.
Upon his hallowed arrival a collective gasp filled the room.
Not because there was anything wrong with him,
not because he was unexpected,
(not even because he had just interrupted an ALL NEW episode of
The Simpsons- (DAD))
…simply because he was beautiful.
Beautiful and silent.
He never cried out, never whimpered or moaned. He only gazed at us with curious eyes and what can only be described as-
instantaneous love.
The kind of love that has been nurtured over eternities,
the kind few humans ever transcend to.
We knew in that rare moment that he was not just an ordinary baby, but an ancient and virtuous soul sent here to redefine what we knew to be passion and happiness.
Never before had anyone in this room seen anything like him.
The rapture we all felt was evident on the faces of those who were lucky enough to have greeted him on that Sunday in May.
And, of course through the years the rapture continues…
…and continues…
…and continues…
It has been eleven years since that fateful Sunday in May.
My dear Jude is slowly tip-toeing toward the edge of his childhood.
The top of his head nearly reaches my chin.
He wears the same size of shoes as me.
Soon those silly dreams of Neverland will be only a whisper in his distant memory as he maps out his future as a
Geneticist/Naturalist/Time-Traveling Paleontologist.
Jude, this week you had your tonsils removed. Not such a big deal really, but you woke up scared and confused. All you wanted to do for the two hours following your surgery was squeeze my hand and never let go. At one point I assumed you were deep in sleep and I attempted to reclaim my hand only to find that you squeezed tighter and pulled me closer.
At that moment
(so similar to that very first Sunday),
like the selfish mother I am,
all I wanted in the world was for you to want me,
to need me that close to you forever.
If only…sigh…
Yes, I know he will let go eventually.
He has exploring to do and who am I to hold him back?
Thank you Jude for always being so true to yourself.
Thank you for being Jude.
Happy Birthday
Julian Marek Eagar
