Letters to Joy

 Well, hello there, baby girl. It’s nice to finally meet you. All the nurses (and family) were greatly joyed to see your big cheeks! I was awed to see your eyes peak open. And that night, holding you in your sleep, I was pleased to feel your tiny little shoulder blades. 

 You will know far less about me than I will you.  And I just realized now that this goes the other way. For me.  I don’t know anything about my parents when they were young. 

 It’s an interesting thing to realize, that unless you’re somehow different than most of us, you won’t actually come to know me until nearly about to die.  I hope I make it there.  But as I was thinking…you won’t see me until you’re an adult yourself. Until then you’ll only see your father.