She
arrived safely – our oldest daughter's first daughter – our tenth granddaughter.
Twenty-three grandchildren now, each one as precious as on the day she or he was
born. Nine months of discomfort, pain, worry, and joy. Days of loving welcome by an
adoring extended family and a generous community. “Happy day,” as my great
grandfather Dr. Rich would say. When her
parents first saw her, they knew an old-fashioned name would fit. I expect those who meet her will agree it is
perfect. Her brothers like their new sister, though life has dramatically changed for them. They will learn to protect, teach, and entertain her.
Mother
and daughter, spirit sisters, begin a new relationship here – so special. Father and daughter, spirit brother and
sister, as well. I recall an old film, Man's Search for Happiness, produced by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for exhibition at the New York
World’s Fair of 1964-65. (lds.org/church/news/…) I first saw it there at the Mormon Pavilion
with my family on a three-week vacation; (that was before YouTube, where I
found it this week.) I was also
impressed by other exhibits that were dazzling, futuristic, and educational;
but that one really hit home and found a special spot in my memory. The movie is narrated by Richard L. Evans
(1906 - 1971) – Apostle, writer, and U of U alumnus. In thirteen minutes it simply portrays the
eternal nature of man; Elder Evans quotes the poet Wordsworth:
“Our
birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
…
trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home”
–
excerpt from Ode on Intimations of
Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood by William Wordsworth,
1770 – 1850 (poets.org)
