Jessica waited for the fireworks to be over before she was born. Nothing and no one would steal her thunder.
If she was six weeks past her due date and had to be chemically induced to join us, that was not her problem. Before she took her first breath, Jessica was her own person.
She didn't surrender to the obstetrician, she allowed him to accomodate her schedule. She arrived exceptionally strong, remarkably beautiful and even more stubborn than her mother.
Every parent experiences the wonder of their child, but I can't imagine anyone living in the cloud of amazement that was for me her first years. Before she could ride a two-wheeler, she had the pride and self-assurance that I, nearly 30, still sought for myself.
She liked ballerinas and princesses at Halloween, and played the roles year around. Someday her "real" parents would claim her, but in the meantime she'd keep me amused and overfill my cup with affection and adventure.
Parent-teacher conferences were often a challenge, sitting straight faced as I listened to the latest amazing new reality she sold the teacher du jour. Her kinds of whoppers could only be sold with those blue-green-grey-hazel eyes and the finest faux sincerity. By the time she reached her early teens the score was approximately Jessica 30 vs. Experienced Educators 0.
Then came the braces, dances and dates.. along with a sister and stepfather. Jessica sparkled and shone. Her new sister looked up to her. My husband cherished her as his own.
She was only 15 when she started working and made enough money that first summer to help pay for her trip to Europe the next year. We worked in the same company, so the reports of her abilities, kindness and hard-working attitude fell frequently on my desk.
The Princess had begun to understand what it was going to take to get the castle and carriages she wanted. When she graduated from high school, my just-the-facts-ma'am-husband's pride spilled out in deep wells of tears. The question was not whether the Princess was ready for the world, but the reverse.
She had a lot of fun her first year of college and came back home without complaint to get her grades back up at the local community college.
When she decided to transfer to my alma mater, others said she showed nothing to justify the expense. We knew our Jessica and bet the farm, first to get her in to the school and then to pay for it.
She showed the doubters and excelled in the classroom like never before. When I became ill last fall, I learned the real strength of our Princess as she helped me through a medical maze and nightmare.
I could not imagine any mother more blessed than I.
There are things now happening which I don't understand, I only know that I am as proud and amazed by the beautiful person delivered to me 21 years ago as I am today.
Happy Birthday Sunshine! We miss you so very much.



Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs