Dear Animal,
I’m guessing that you probably woke up today the same as any
other day; stretching away the sleepy feeling that lingers when you have an
important event that prevented you from a full night’s rest. Am I right?
I don’t often get the opportunity to wake up in the same
house with you, but as the fates would allow it, this morning as I was leaving
I noticed that you were sleeping on the couch. Should I? Shouldn’t I? I slowly
walked to where you were sleeping. I made sure not to make any noise so that I
wouldn’t wake you up. You were so bundled up in the blanket that it was hard to
see your face. The way you were wrapped up reminded me of the blanket you had
when you were a little girl. You wouldn’t go anywhere without that blanket…it
was your security, your best friend, your EVERYTHING. And there you were on the
couch bundled securely as though you knew that once that blanket came off,
everything about your life would change..
Walking away with tears in my eyes, I began to reminisce on
your childhood.
YourcurlsyoursassyourattitudeyourbullheadednessyourdefianceyoursmileyourkindnessyourvoiceyourloveoftheRugrats.
It was after I got in my car that I realized that this was
not going to be an ordinary day for any of us, because those of us who have
been by your side throughout this journey know how hard you have worked and how
many hours of sleep you have given up in order to walk in today’s ceremony.
And that is about the moment that I lost it. Seriously,
Animal, I cried in my car for the entire time that it took me to get home. Then
I cried at home while I showered. What a baby I am…but you know how the Ramirez
women are—strong on the outside and MUSH on the inside.
My dear Animal. My first Godchild. My not-so-little niece. I
love you to the moon and back and I am incredibly proud of the young lady you
have grown to be. May your desire to be successful in all you do never die. May
your path be filled with challenges that continue to help you grow. May your cell phone always be charged with my
number on speed dial. And May your heart be full of fire for education, because
without fire we don’t find motivation.
You are your mother’s daughter, Sarina. She is a champion
and she is your greatest friend in life…I come a close second. Know that my
love for you, though different than the love your mother has for you, is FIERCE
and undying. You have witnessed it as long as you have lived, and have felt it
since I first felt the kicks in your mommy’s tummy.
You know that I always say that you are smart because I am
smart (and you should be thankful that I passed those genes to you). You will
undoubtedly make some of the same mistakes that we have made and you will
undoubtedly learn the same lessons we did from those mistakes, but know that
this family will ALWAYS support you in all you do and in every decision you
make. We love you, Animal. I love you, Animal.
I can’t wait to watch you graduate today. I will sit up
there and watch you proudly grab that diploma, even though I know that it is a
gateway for your new journey…a journey that will open up roads for you at UCSD.
The places you will go, little girl, with that diploma and your tenacity will
be the title of your future book. I can’t wait to read it!
No matter where you are, always remember that your Nina
loves you more than life itself. I heard your roar the moment you were born and
I knew you were destined for greatness at that precise moment. Go get ‘em,
Animal!
Love,
Nina
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