Dear Sonia,
I owe you an apology. While visiting you this past weekend, we did all kinds of cool stuff together. I slept in your room and was your pacifier concierge, giving you back your lost "pacey" when you woke up whining in the night and then telling you to go back to sleep (you obey so surprisingly well for a 12 month old, especially in this instance, considering you are almost completely asleep). We had a lot of meals together. We played peek-a-boo in the car. We danced. We had your birthday party.
Then we went to temple to get you blessed on your first birthday. My intention started innocently enough. I remembered after the first of three "stations" we were going to go through for the full blessing that I had my bag with me, which meant I had my little Ganesha with me. (He's the Hindu diety of overcoming obstacles and while I've had a little medallion with him on it since I visited Nepal nine years ago and a drawing of him hanging in my bathroom, I also purchased a small free-standing one in January while my life was seemingly falling apart to help me through.) I asked your dad if it would be okay to ask the priest to bless it while we were there. He did, involving your Nama in the ask so it would be completely understood.
Your Nama was very excited that I had a Hindu god in my purse. It was given to the priest for him to bless. And he did, giving it back to me, along with the flowers and other things that were used to bless him, and directions to put him in an auspicious place and begin to ask him for what I need the following Monday.
During this, your Nana was a little surprised that I had a Hindu god in my bag. I explained it to her. Then, I heard your Nama ask the priest to put into his prayer asks: a husband for me! So suddenly now, your Mom and Dad and I are giggling up a storm in the middle of a very serious blessing because your Nama has now asked the priest to help Auntie K get a husband!
So hence the apology, since I'm not entirely clear if any prayers even got said for you, little baby, your Nama was so pleased that your Auntie K was involved! Hee hee. Only kidding. I'm sure it was just in passing that the husband prayer was said. I mean, isn't health and prosperity on a first birthday just much more important than finding a husband? One would hope, right?
On the way home, I assured your Nana that I also carry a St. Christopher medal when I travel (he's the Catholic Patron Saint of Travellers). She asked why I didn't have a Saint Anthony instead of Ganesh. I asked what he was the Saint of, and she said "Lost Causes". That caused quite the laughing uproar in the car! But then she clarified a little, saying it was of lost things. Okay, well, I'd rather overcome an obstacle than be a lost cause. (For the record, I just looked up St. Anthony, and he's the Patron Saint of Lost Things and Missing Persons, so perhaps he's not such a bad idea after all, since clearly, my husband is a missing person!)
Anyway, chickadee, we had a fantab visit. You are walking! Which deserves its own post, and I promise I will, soon. I'm hoping I might get to see you this summer, but with you having a new house and a lot to do, I might not see you till I come to Houston again at Labor Day. Which isn't so bad. Perhaps you'll have some teeth by then!
Love you,
Auntie K
