Back in March of this year, I wrote a little verse for a dear friend on the day of her baby boy’s birth.  This will always be a little gift to Beth and Eli… forever.  I know that each baby travels his or own journey to being born… thousands of years and thousand of miles and thousands of hopes and thoughts and dreams.  As parents, we wait for these babies to join us on our own journeys.  We wait with open hearts and open arms and dreams beyond dreams for these gifts of children.

Today is my birthday. Today I think of my Mom and my Dad as I begin the celebration of my birthday.  I wish I could remember that day… that October 6th day back in 1952… in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  My Mom has told me of that day… how it snowed the night before… and how my grandfather drove my Mom to the hospital in his pick-up truck… how my Dad was out-to-sea and had no way of knowing that I was almost here… and my brother was staying with my grandparents on their farm.  My Mom was alone that night and morning.  Then I came.

Of course, I don’t remember any of this.  I don’t remember much of anything up ’til about 3 years old.  I am lucky enough to have photographs to remember… old black & white ones… in my Mom’s arms, 1st birthday, 3rd birthday…

But what I do know is that my journey began long before October 6, 1952.

I think, I honestly think, that our journeys do begin thousands of years… millions of years, maybe… before we arrive.  We wait.  We whisper.  We wonder.  Then we know.

Today, I dedicate my little verse (I’ve edited it to be more universal) to my Mom and Dad (he is smiling from heaven today)… and to all the Moms and Dads who await their babies, who dream of their babies-to-be, who have babies and who take babies into their homes and hearts.  Babies who have chosen them to begin a journey of life.

The Owlet Who Whispered, “Whoooo?”

A million years ago, or so,
A tiny crack was heard.
And from that tiny crack,
There came a baby bird…

An owlet of downy feathers
With a palette of softest hues,
Who opened its wide eyes
And whispered, “Whoooo? Whoooo?“

“Whoooo?” explained the wind,
Who blew into the nest…
“Whoooo? is for heaven,
Which now does all the rest.”

So every single day to come,
For a million years, it’s true,
The owlet opened up its eyes
And whispered, “Whoooo? Whoooo?”

To the sun or drenching raindrops,
To snow or winds or dew…
In light or deepest darkness
Came the whispered, “Whoooo? Whoooo?“

Then one miracle morning,
The owlet’s “Whoooo?” was named;
Through all of space and all of time,
From heaven, the answer came…

For the wind was perfect
In the early morning’s light,
And with the strength of the universe,
The owlet took flight.

It flew.
It knew.
The “Whoooo? Whoooo?” it asked for,
Is YOU.

I thank my Mom and Dad today for waiting for my whispered, “Whoooo? Whoooo?”

And HELLO 58!