Through the redwoods, alongside the river trained against the sand and stone shores. The sun beams literally were vibrating the air so you could see them. More than once Yalle and I were holding hands, high up towards the ceiling of the car for no reason other than radiant joy. She is a hero to me, in just one night I watched her hustle pool change a tire in heeled boots and skinny jeans and chug whiskey out the bottle. Once the 101 turned to the freeway outside Oakland she took over behind the wheel because she's better at "stepping on it". She got me to the airport Monday night in San Jose with enough time to get searched in security, by a ponytailed woman with an accent and rubber blue gloves. My bra set off the buzzer more than once. I took it in stride, what else did I have to do? When it was over I talked to Gretchen, wrote some on the travel piece I've been keeping and right before I boarded, texted the boy I'd see him when I got back.
There were four people I wanted to surprise the most, of course the number one was my brother the new dad. It was 9:20 am when I flew in to BWI Tuesday morning and almost 10 when I texted my brother could he talk in 15 minutes. When 15 minutes was up I was standing outside the door to the room of the hospital where my sister-in-law was in the bed with her baby on her chest both of them glowing the most tender new momma-baby glow. I texted him Could he talk in person then dad opened the door and I walked in.
My brother and I, emotional as we are and hard as we've worked to learn how to communicate and be adults, were capable of nothing at that moment other than tears. Tears and sobbing and smiling and laughing and hugging, and most of all breathless utter still staring at tiny baby Grace.
Tim and Mary showed up my godparents and they were number two and three to be surprised and there they were, the tears again. Family, my family surrounding me. My brother's closest friends, watching the hearts melt right inside these grown men. I stayed at Erin's that night and spent the next day with Kelly in Catonsville then Brooks in the city and reveled in how very much I love where I am from. Brian and I drove to my sister-in-laws house the day after that and the best part was the cuddle nest of all of us, the lights out and the baby hiding under blankets snuggled sleeping on my chest. That night I drove to the beach with Erin who is my sister, we were dirty Burnie as we get when we're together eating junk food from the Wawa in Easton and making merciless fun of each other til we finally got to Ocean Pines. We cuddled most the night when we did get there, settled in the house with my sleeping mom.
Yesterday I went to the Yacht Club where I lastly surprised Jott. She screamed like in a horror movie and then my trip finally felt done. I came home after that and rested, talked to the boy a while and have been peaceful, smiling a lot, and enjoying my blessings. September is my favorite time ever to be in the sun by the beach.
Welcome to this precious ordinary world, my darling baby niece.
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