V: The Sweet Faces of "J" -Happy Birthday!

Earlier this week I posted about my special granddaughter, "J", and the wonderful day we had with our little picnic at the park. There wasn't time to tell about all the things that make her special, but on the occasion of her birthday, I wanted to take the time now to write about just that!

I've often lamented to my family that my dad isn't alive so he could have known "J". I just know that he would have loved her and appreciated what is so unique about her. "Some people are just naturally funny", he would say. And "J" fits that bill! Like the image ingrained in my memory of two and a half year old "J" standing on a chair at the kitchen sink, washing dishes in a sink full of bubbly suds. She was wearing a purple fairy costume with sequins, topped by a purple cone hat with flowing purple scarves (vision a damsel in distress costume)! She scrubbed those toy dishes over and over!

Two years later, I see her kneeling at the bathtub, pushing her sleeves back to her elbows in a practiced move, to wash up her grubby little brother.



Fast forward to age five. Oldest daughter delivers "J" to kindergarten readiness testing. Parents can't stay, but when daughter arrives to pick "J" up and see how she fared on the test, the teachers are laughing. Seems when "J" was instructed to hop on one foot five times, she stated that she had "better hop only once, because five times might be dangerous"!

The first week of first grade when the teacher was passing out the new reading primers, "J" raised her hand. "J" said: "Mrs. H, I can't read". The teacher responded: "You can't read? Not at all"? "No, "J" assured her. "I can't read at all". Mrs. H said she was wondering if some important information concerning "J" had been omitted from her files, but she held the book out to "J" and opened it. "See if you can read any of the words, "J". Any words at all". "J" proceeded to recite the entire page effortlessly. "Why "J", you CAN read", the teacher exclaimed. "You read this entire page perfectly"! "J" put her hand up to face with astonishment; "Why, I had NO idea"!!



Five year old "J" is watching television with her brothers when she reaches up to adjust the volume. The 26" television topples off the chest and falls on her. Her parents rush her to the emergency room, but she appears to be only bruised. The ER instructs them to follow up with a visit to her doctor the following day. Her father takes her to the doctor who informs "J" that he has seen lots of kids who have had a television fall on them. "Oh, I am so glad to hear that"!, "J" says with no hint of guile. "That makes me feel SO much better"! Dad said that the doctor glanced over his shoulder with a quizzical expression, probably wondering if this kid is for "real" or a little sparty pants! "J" complains that her back hurts. Dr. P says, "You know, "J", even though I'm a doctor I have problems with my back too. I'm going to give you some exercises that might help". "Did you hear THAT Dad?", "J" exclaimed. He's an EXPERT"!!! Dad reported that Dr. P's back was turned, but he looked over his shoulder, and realizing that she was sincere, he burst out laughing.

Here is "J" with her mom, step-dad and brother. She loves to blow bubbles!




Daughter drops "J" off in front of the school and waits for her to go in. Brothers rush on ahead, but "J" lags behind, as usual on her own time, bending down to pick wildflowers, then twirling and blowing kisses to her mother while parents waiting in their own cars to drop off children watch laughing.

So birthday wishes and blessings for this most special girl!

Here is "J" at her birthday celebration last year! Happy tenth birthday, "J"!



P.S. Woops! "J"'s Aunt Mary left this comment!
"You left out the part where the sun was shining, umbrella was out, late to school, picking flowers, blowing kisses, all with her skirt stuck up in her Disney princess underpants!!

Or the time when she was going to learn how to play her "My Little Pony" guitar and take that and a harmonica onstage to be in the school talent show. Within about two weeks, I wanna say? And then, when asked what song she was going to sing she said, with a shrug, "I dunno, I'll just make it up when I get up there"!

Does this family love this special little girl, or what?!!!