When Lila was born, my sister sent us a pear tree to plant in our yard. When it arrived, I actually called the nursery because I thought they made a mistake and sent us only part of the tree because it really just looked like a big stick. We planted it in our side yard and aptly named it Lila’s tree. Five years later they both stand so much taller than when they first arrived here. The difference between age 4 and age 5 seems colossal this time around. They’ve all turned 5 before, but with Lila it feels different. I know why though. It’s because she’s the last one. Our last one……
“But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more coming after- oh, that’s love by a different name. She is the babe you hold in your arms for an hour after she’s gone to sleep. If you put her down in the crib, she might wake up changed and fly away. So instead you rock by the window drinking the light from her skin, breathing her exhaled dreams. Your heart bays to the double crescent moons of closed lashes on her cheeks. She’s the one you can’t put down.” –Barbara Kingsolver
Yup. That pretty much sums it up. Happy Birthday Lila Jane, our larger than life little girl.
Having just spent time with her, she is a prize. Funny, original and lovely.