"In the great green room there was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of--
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were three little bears, sitting on chairs
And two little kittens and a pair of mittens
And a little toy house and a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush".
"Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light and the red balloon
Goodnight bears goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks and goodnight socks"
"Goodnight little house and goodnight mouseTwenty-five years ago today, a quarter of a century past... a girl child was born. She was loved and cherished and nurtured and taught from the beginning... even before she was born. Goodnight Moon... a simple story with bright primary color illustrations became a nightly ritual... her mom read it before she was born and every night, beginning on her first night home from the hospital. First words... mama... dada.... and "moon". She knew the words to the entire book before she could read and wore out many copies... board book, hardback, paperback... I don't remember how many we finally ended up with. I patched and taped the pages together in this cherished work for many years.
Goodnight comb and goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"
Goodnight stars, goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere."
~ Margaret Wise Brown, Goodnight Moon, 1947
Today, she turns 25... on Easter... her birthday falling on this day for the first and likely the last time in her life. (or at least that is what she tells me). All grown up and too far away to bake a cake for, we simply celebrate over the phone and with cards and as she has also told me... with blog posts. She checked.. it wasn't up... she was disappointed... but I have been behind all my life.. all her life. When I sat down to go through some pictures and think about the past 25 years, my eyes misted.. such a long time it seems and yet it was gone in an instant...those baby smells and sounds of learning to laugh.. those funny things she said as a little toddler...the excitement of going to school and taking her first piano lesson... the joy of watching her help another and realizing that she was learning life lessons.... the harrowing job of teaching her to drive...."watch the mailboxes, watch the mailboxes!!!...the pride at seeing her graduate... from kindergarten, high school, college, master's degree and one more left for the future. All these moments and more contained in 25 years of memories.
I don't like to be in pictures or post pictures that I'm in... but I will make this one exception. Please note and then disregard the amazingly out of date glasses and the frizzed out hair... remember, I had just been through 48 hours of unsuccessful induction of labor and a C-section... so taking that into account, I didn't look half bad. At least both Nyssa and I were asleep... we needed it... we were both exhausted from the process of new life. So, this is what I was doing 25 years ago today at exactly this time of day... 5PM.
Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!!!!
(end of post)
9 comments:
Happy Happy Birthday...I love this post....I wish I had a photo from the hospital, but we didn't own a camera till later....Michelle
Happy Birthday, Nyssa!! and SRP, you look just like I did after I gave birth! I had glasses like that too.
Happy birthday to your dear daughter, and to you. I remember that photo from a few years gone by. My son, David, was born on Easter Sunday 32 years ago, on April 15. He happened to be at a conference in Tampa that week and came down and spent the weekend with me. I felt blessed to have him here. I'll be on my way there nexxt week for a couple of weeks to visit him and Sarah, and, of course, Ella. This is the first year I wasn't there to see her hunt eggs. I'll catch one of her T-ball games though, so that will be fun.
What a perfectly delightful and satisfying post, SRP. LOVE the last photo. (forgive me for the chuckle?) I had those same lovely glasses and frizzy hair. And Good Night Moon. Ah. Is there a more wonderful 1st book? I think not. Why DO children have to grow up so fast!
Happy birthday, Nyssa!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Happy birthday, Nyssa!!! Hey, you have a pretty cool mom!! What a wonderful and loving birthday gift...the pictures are all totally stunning. My favorites are the first one with the teddy bear and thumb, and the one in the white outfit and hat. Nyssa, you are stunningly beautiful, and you are both so blessed to have each other!!!
I was looking closely at that pillow... that was one I took to the hospital from home. The stripped ticking and pillowcase gave it away. Those pillows were made by my grandmother who passed away when I was a junior in college. They were, or really.. ARE stuffed tightly with feathers and are most comfortable. I've had them for over 40 years and still have them here. Now, I must go digging for them in the closet...hmm.
Thanks for the understanding comment. I know that you, of all people, know how I am feeling about losing Storm (and my friend Cam). If I didn't have Eclipse, I'd be worse off than I am. She seems to know that Storm is missing, and she has not left my side today.
well the last photo is for sure priceless. I like the story and love the photos showing from day one, congratulations on your sweet baby girl reaching a quarter century. my two sons are rapidly approaching half century and now i have to go and fret about it. yowsa
A wonderful retrospective, especially the photo of you zonked! I had a long labor and then a C-section too. I was so out of it that had to be talked into holding my baby.
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