To Desmond on his 13th birthdy

13 years in your young life

are not the same as 13 years in mine.

13 years ago I was 56 still working

 and waiting for you, my first grandson
13 years ago you were just being kissed

By my mom and sent down here from
Wherever you were,  before you were.
“Goopye now”, she said.  “You can Tell ‘em”

Baby Cakes number 1
Staring curiously at the world

Newly born, a little bit of all of us

Sitting with me in my blue chair

Playing patty cake.

Sneaking up the stairs on mornings when 

Everyone else was asleep
Snuggling  a moment when it was still

A new day
I treasure the memory of those mornings
Toast and Barb jam

Or pancakes

Baking bread with grandpa

Playing bouncy balls in the hallway

We did a 5k once 

You in a stroller still less than one year old
We made blanket forts in St. Louis
Danced at your parents wedding 

In New Orleans
Had the best helado
At Parque Cafe in Quindio 

We sat on a porch in Guatapé, you in a hammock

Listening to your dad reading Harry Potter
Now you’ve read it in at least three languages

Never thought we’d do a 5k in Tokyo
Under Mt. Fuji

Or swim in Thailand and float banana leaf boats
And feed elephants and make things

Out of their poop.

You met auntie Barbara

And saw the window I jumped from into the snow
(did you and your dad sneak up to the attic after all?)

Just think of what the next 13 years will bring

You will never lose  your place in line
You our  first grandchild
Even though your legs hang off the blue chair now
You made me a mimi  and paved the way
For your brother and cousins

Happy birthday dear grandson

May the next 13 years be just as happy