72 thoughts on loving her; why's, how's and what's

1. In my best Van Morrison voice, cuz she's "my-y brown eyed girl!"
2. Sometimes...
3. Other times, she's a "Green eyed lady, ocean lady, child of nature, friend of man."
4. But regardless of their color, her eyes are totally expressive of her heart
5. She's tender-hearted
6. And painfully aware
7. And yet, she doesn't let that awareness depress her
8. Instead she asks me things like, "Mama, next time we need to put water in the homeless bags, cuz in the summer it's hot and they're probably thirsty."
9. In the next breath, she's planning a royal princess wedding
10. Down to the party favors and custom vows
11. Which is why I think she'll be a professional events planner
12. Because she is me as a child, incarnate in all respects, and stands as a constant reminder for me to love that little girl, both in her and in myself
13. Her laugh is infectious
14. She's a wonderful, albeit bossy, little mother to her brother and her peers
15. She is confident enough to say, "Remember to make me a card that's nice" when she feels it is appropriate
16. She doesn't back down
17. (I love this for her future, not so much for the present)
18. She is unusually creative
19. In writing
20. In music
21. In drawing/sculpting/painting or just "art"
22. And that's not just me sayin', her teachers do too
23. Which makes me think that she might donate her art to charity auctions for the homeless
24. She's a serious little bugger
25. Pondering the deep spiritual truths of this life
26. And keeps me honed on how to answer those angles
27. but mostly, I look forward to the inevitable creation of her own faith
28. She loves yoga/pilates
29. And wearing skirts over pants
30. She is in tune with the earth
31. and is a green thumb, naturally
32. As such, she is a comfort, reminding us of beloved Grandma Nina who is in Heaven now
33. She is beautiful
34. And I marvel that she came from my loins
35. She grounds me, and reminds me of my limitations and when to reprioritize
36. She makes me want to be a better person
37. And usually gets me to do it, usually
38. She's a slob - the only way I can justify putting that on this list is that Charlie Brown is too, and so she reminds me of him in that regard? A reach?
39. She's a smarty, always thinking
40. About EVERY.THING
41. Everything I love in me is in her
42. So is everything I hate about myself
43. And while those are difficult to face, when they are wrapped up in her, it makes it somewhat easier to see more objectively
44. She doesn't buy into traditional beauty
45. Telling me frequently that some goth chick or a heavy woman is beautiful
46. And sometimes, it makes me wonder if she can see into people's hearts without knowing them?
47. Her enthusiasm is contagious
48. She understands that my work is important to people less fortunate
49. And she wants to help, too!
50. She's getting really good at folding laundry - love that!
51. She tells me the things I need to hear at all the right times
52. She's something of an oddball, and I'm nothing if not a glutton for the oddballs in my life
53. She gives me perspective, often that I've lost
54. She's seen me at my absolute worst, and still loves me with everything she's got
55. And I hope that I prove to be worthy of that love and trust
56. She's my spring sunshine baby and brightens the darkest of days
57. She can also roar in like a lion, much like the month of her birth, though
58. Spring can be stormy too
59. But we weather thru and are greeted by the wonder of new growth at the end of it all
60. she mumbles when she talks and thus creates a special role for me as interpreter
61. She also thinks faster than she can communicate, reinforcing my role of interpreter
62. Cuz she's pink on a craptastically brown day
63. She's re-taught me that pretty flowers make everything better
64. and that band-aids don't always
65. which is why I try to discipline the goods and the bads with lasting solutions
66. but when I don't, there are always smiles when cookies are involved
67. She takes turns leading and following
68. And I'm glad to see the balance she has adopted
69. Her friends are a diverse group, evidence that she is inclusive
70. She still clings to her blankie at night, and that reassures me that she's still a baby
71. She negotiates, often pushing her luck, but she's learning
72. Because she's ours, the first fruit of our union