"Meris"....March 5, 2000

"Meris"....March 5, 2000

Almost Midnight...

.....and after a weekend with Pookie and Meris, I am exhausted. The Goddess and I were musing about how we will ever handle having a newborn. I believe, perhaps foolishly, that it will be different when the child is our own.

But a great visit was had by all, both with Pookie and Meris. I cannot believe how quickly Meris is growing and maturing into a wonderfully talented, kind, generous individual. It seems like yesterday that she was riding in a car seat in the back of my old '89 Ford Tempo, screaming her lungs out in protest over being confined.

She was, and always will be a free spirit.

And while there were a few years that I was earnestly concerned about her future, it seems as though she is taming the wild beast within. In the dawn of her teen years, this is a very good thing, indeed. She is very much like her Auntie Goddess, strong willed, highly intelligent, compassionate, altruistic, extroverted, and ready to have her way. I am hoping that as she gets older, The Goddess can relate some of her experiences in hopes of Meris avoiding a great deal of unnecessary pain. Knowing Meris, however, she may need to learn some things for herself - the hard way.

I will always be there to help her pick up the pieces, however. I have a soft spot for her, in spite of myself, and while I know she is cognisant of this, she never crosses the line with me. She is an icon of respect and grace whenever she is in my presence.

Which is why I felt confident in taking her to my Mother-in-Law's 60th birthday party last evening. She seemed to have a great time, and in her unique way, with endless anecdotes and a few jazz steps thrown in for good measure, she charmed the gathering of fine ladies in her presence. Nevertheless, given the fact that she is only ten, I did say a prayer or two to the powers that be that she not get too rambunctious.

She didn't.

Thank you Meris.

The following day, the three of us spent a great deal of time painting acrylic on canvass. Meris pumped out five masterpieces in the time that The Goddess and I did one each. It was tremendously fun, and she decided to grace our fridge with one of her pieces. It was the first time I had ever put brush to canvass myself, and given The Goddess' talent in this area, I was a bit intimidated at first. Nevertheless, I decided to meditate, and just paint whatever my hands decided to paint. While the result will never end up in the Louvre, I am pleased with myself. I may even get the painting scanned and brave putting it up on the site.

Alas, painting finished, and cleanup done, all of us were in need of a nap. Before heading off for some zzz's, I returned Meris to her mother and two siblings, and returned home to an already slumbering Goddess.

The rest is history.

It was a truly fulfilling weekend. Thank you Meris and Pookie.

I love you both....

....Blessed Be...