Saturday, May 1, 2010

A Birth-Day Celebration


Twenty-one years ago, right now, I was talking to one of my midwives on the phone.
"I'm so tired," I said.
And well I should have been. I'd been up all night with the labor pains.

This girl was ready to be born.

Jessie Moon, born that rainy, magnolia-scented day in her mother and father's bedroom, the entire family in the house, she came fast and fierce when it came time to push, a mighty effort, and she was born and there she was and I took that child into my arms and I laid back on the bed and there was such joy you can't imagine.
And rainbows appeared in the sky and I wouldn't have been surprised if a unicorn or two hadn't appeared in the back yard to nibble the garden peas.

She has been a joy and a love all her life. The boss of me, she is what I have called my hip-pocket baby because she was the last and always got to be the baby and if she wasn't in my pocket, she was in the sling, watching the world from her mother's hip, and if I could still carry her around, I would but I can't. She's six-feet tall and glorious in all her shimmying, light-shot beauty and here, here's an e-mail I just got from her sister May:

Mama,
Thank you for our girl. I saw her last night at Waterworks and she lit the night up. I cannot tell you how much I love her, how thankful I am for her, for all your good hard work raising her so well. She truly is one of those people that make this world bearable and better and finer. Goddamn! Aren't we lucky? Aren't we blessed? Thank you thank you thank you.
I love you endlessly, completely, and with all I am,
May

I think that about says it. Except for the fact that we all raised Jessie. She got to be the baby in a house full of people who love babies and she was of the disposition and personality to take it all in like a pretty pink sponge and now she oozes it back, great loving drops of it all the time. She was surrounded by people like her sister May whose words say as much about her as they do about our girl. How could Jessie not be who she is?

She's twenty-one. My last baby is grown up.
We're going to have a big day of it, lunch with her fairy godparents, supper with her grandmother whose 83rd birthday it is today and all of the family and some of the friends and look- it's the first of May and it's as earth-shatteringly beautiful as any day on this earth and it's Jessie's birthday.

I was so tired that day, twenty-one years ago as my body worked to open and let that baby fish swim out. For the fourth and last time, my womb did exactly as it should have and the tides of labor took me under, brought me back up and I walked and I rocked and I moaned and I waited and everywhere around me, people cooked and laughed and waited with me, danced with me, and then- there she was, and here she is and we've been dancing and laughing ever since.

Happy birthday, Jessie. The world is ready for you and you are ready for the world.

My strong, smart, dancing, beautiful, sweet girl.

My heart is bursting and your father and I are waiting to see you. It's going to be a big day.

It's your birthday. We are loving you, all of us. You are our baby.

Happy birthday.

35 comments:

  1. okay,
    I'm so crying.

    Happy Birthday , Jessie, Happy Birthing Day , Mary Moon,

    and may I raise a toast to love,
    wherever and however it manifests itself.
    Because it is all that matters.

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  2. Can't imagine having a baby at home, with people cooking and just being there. In Belgium, you go to hospital with just your husband, and lie on a bed till the baby is born. Your way sounds like much more fun... Congrats Jessie, and what a neat thing to get from your sister, who thanks your mom for you!
    Greeeeaaat stuff!

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  3. Beautiful words miss moon and May, as always you share well.

    Beautiful Jessie~!!! We are all wishing you the happiest of natal day celebrating from Ohio!

    It doesn't seem that long ago that I was babysitting you and Lily while your parents were in mexico. Remember us all huddling together on the haunted trail that Halloween a million years ago? (I felt sort of guilty because you really seemed scared.) As it turns out, you didn't get permanently traumatized. Thank goodness.

    You are a strong light in this weary world Jessie. Always remember it and feel it, and above all, let it shine!
    We love you,
    xoxo pf and fam.

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  4. Oh, happy Birthday Jessie.

    How perfect to inspire such love :)

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  5. Oh goodness. I can't tell you how much your love and this life of mine mean to me.

    That was a beautiful post, Mama (and May). I can't believe all the love that I have received in these 21 years. For all the love and kindness that I have been shown, I hope that I give out just as much. That's almost next to impossible, but I certainly am trying. I am the child of an amazing family and for that I feel so blessed, and so very, very grateful.

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  6. And I also wanted to say thank you to this blog family of ours. You too have always been so kind to my family and to me. I am lucky to have you as well.
    Lots of love!

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  7. Happy Birthday Jessie! Ms. Moon, where do the years go??
    May's way with words is inspiring.
    Hope you all have the best celebration.

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  8. Jessie --Happy Birthday to you!! Your mama and May said it best, as per usual :)

    We are all blessed indeed.

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  9. Oh that picture is so amazingly, wonderful, sweet, beautiful, perfect and fun, her gorgeous, happy face, the sky and the little moon even!!!!
    Wow!
    I love May's email. I love your post. Lucky Jessie, lucky you. Happy happy Birthday. It's been so fun getting to know your dear family. Enjoy!!!!

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  10. I got teary reading this too.
    You're good at that!

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  11. What delight to read your words of the birth of your daughter! What a wonderful day her birth was! Those pains of labor give the most joyous relief of pleasure and joy when you are to hold your child warm from your womb. My heart spills over for your happiness today and for all your family in celebrating together.


    It sounds like a balance is in your life right now Ms. Moon...soak up the day, laugh and love.

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  12. Oh I just loved every word of this. It would be my greatest hope for this new baby to have the kind of place in our family that Jessie has in yours. XOXO

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  13. Twenty-one on a Saturday?? Jessie, sounds like you are a wonderful person and deserve all the happiness you will have all weekend long, all year long.
    Ms. Moon, from my calculations it seems like you had your last at age 34...I was starting at age 34. I'm going to be soooooo tired as the years go on......
    Those hb last ones are so sweet, aren't they?

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  14. That was me. Google was acting up.

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  15. Ah! She's gorgeous, Ms Moon. It was worth all that labor. They grow up so fast, don't they. Enjoy this special day!

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  16. Happy Birthday Jessie.

    What a beautiful tribute to your girl.

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  17. !!!!! have a great day, both of you!!!!

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  18. Happy Birthday, Jessie! You and your family deserve each other!

    And Happy Birth Day, Ms. Moon. I have only witnessed one birth, my niece's baby two years ago, and your words brought back that state of mind, the expectancy, hope and joy of that day. You write so beautifully.

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  19. "Love poem." she thought, blinking back a tear. "Beautiful."

    I finally get the joke behind the nickname Mean Aunt Jessie. Happy Birthday to her and to you for having her.

    We're out of the Smokies now and back to web reception. Looking forward to catching up.

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  20. These.. the posts about your kids, always make me melt.

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  21. Happy Birthday, Jessie! Twenty-one is a supercool thing to be!

    Have a wonderful time too, Ms. Moon! You and her whole family have done such an excellent job of it!

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  22. She IS gorgeous -- but then again, it's no surprise given her mama and daddy. Happy Birthday to your Jesse!

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  23. Talk about your love and light and happy family celebration! You did such a great job of capturing it today, Ms Moon. Hope you are basking in the lovely family and the warm celebration you have created for them. Kisses to you and Jessie, too. And the O-boy, of course, and....Well, heck, just give them all a kiss from me. x0 N2

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  24. Happy Birthday and Birth Day, Jessie and Mary Moon! What delight to know you both ~ Jessie, I look forward to seeing you on Sun Day, the day after your birthday!!! Love to the whole family, including fairy godparents!

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  25. How wonderful, happy happy days forever to you all.

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  26. That is the perfect picture of Jessie.

    This whole post gave me shivers and made me teary. so much magic. And boy, does that girl of yours SHINE

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  27. Deb- You're right. Love is everything.

    Photocat- Very few babies are born at home in the USA. I am one of the lucky ones who got to experience what should be the normal way.

    Petit Fleur- You would have enjoyed the gathering. We missed you. I hope all is well in Ohio.

    Jo- She is something, that girl.

    HoneyLuna- Bless you girl and what a fine, beautiful woman you have turned out to be! You do give that love back, refined and refocused through the light which is you.

    Mel- Isn't May amazing? Yes. She is.

    SJ- You would love this girl. I know you would.

    Bethany- We're so glad you're along for the ride.

    Nicol- Sweet day indeed.

    Ellen- Isn't it the best? And yes, things are evening out a bit.

    Maggie May- I wish that for you SO much.

    Michele R- Yep. Well, I was ALMOST thirty-four. You are brave. But you'll do it.

    Aden- SO fast.

    Rebecca- She's a beautiful girl. Woman!

    Screamish- Thanks!

    E- We should all get to experience birth. And death. Our society keeps us from these things too much. We do not need protection from that which enlightens us.

    Kathleen Scott- I'm glad you're home! And yes- we call her Mean Aunt Jessie because she is so damn sweet.

    AJ- What can I say? I love my babies.

    Ms. Trouble- We may be crazy but we are loving.

    Elizabeth- You are so sweet. Thank-you.

    N2- Done!

    Lulumarie- And you'll be seeing everyone tonight!

    Dedonz- Thank-you! And thank-you for coming by.

    Michelle- And so does your girl.

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  28. this is the best. what a day!
    i love how you described labor - truly beautiful.

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  29. This is astounding--beautiful.

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  30. What a beautiful daughter you have, Ms. Moon. Happy Birthday Jessie!

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  31. I love Jessie, too! She is a damn doll.

    Happy birthday, dear girl.

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  32. Awww, happy birthday to your baby, that's a beautiful photo of her.

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  33. Happy Belated 21st birthday, Ms. Jessie!

    Hi Ms. Moon...I stop in to check on you quick, see what I have missed, and you have me with the goosebumps and tears in my eyes here at my desk :0) Miss you!!

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  34. Happy, Happy Belated Birthday baby girl!

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