Today is Grown-up Girl's 23rd birthday, and the first birthday of her life we have been apart. She lives in Pasadena, about a 2+1/2 hour drive from home, and normally she would come home, or we would go up there. She just started a job though, and Friday was her first day; she just didn't feel comfortable asking for Sunday off. Ya think?
If you've been reading me from the beginning, or have read my Cast of Characters, you'll remember that GuG is actually my niece, but that we've raised her. Hence my having a 23 year old daughter when I am soooooooo youthful looking (I wish)! We joke that the easiest thing for her to do when someone asks about her family is to just give them a flow chart. It's sort of not a joke though!
This is GuG as a baby (obviously). She was always so happy, even when she just woke up.
Her family situation might have been complicated, but all she knew was she had lots and lots of people that loved her.
For five years she was an only child, with 3 adults (my mom, me, my fiance/husband) pretty much delighted over her very presence 24/7. She loved the Zoo and Sea World, and as is the way with only children she pretty much got to do whatever she wanted. One of my favorite memories is how when she was about 3 she would sit at the kitchen table "writing" a grocery list. The invented spelling was priceless.
There was also the time all the potatoes disappeared from the potato keeper. Where on earth does a 5lb bag of potatoes disappear to? The storage seat of a toddler ride-on train as it turns out!
Once she wasn't an only child anymore, it was OVER! We had 3 kids in 4 years and her mother had 2 more kids in the same time period. Whether she was born a nurturer or made one, she has definitely been a GREAT big sister/cousin. She was 10 years old when she got to be in the room as my mom delivered my youngest daughter.
It's sometimes difficult for people to understand that her cousins are really her siblings and her half-siblings are really more like her cousins, but they are all lucky to have her. She is basically a big sis to 8 younger ones (between us, her mom's kids, and her dad's kids).
I alluded to her love of books in Friday's post. You could pretty much find her doing one of two things between the ages of 5 and 13.She either had her nose in a book, or she was at dance class. In fourth grade, she met Music Man. Who knew they would reconnect in their senior years?
When she was 11 she danced the part of Clara in the Nutcracker. It was her love of dance and theater that led her to attend a Performing Arts high school. She ended up finding that her true love was technical theater. She capped off her high school career by stage detecting Into The Woods. Although she no longer dances, she still has the great ballerina posture.
Even though she and Music Man went to different schools after fourth grade, they never really forgot about each other. The summer before 12th grade, Music Man, a sax player, was in China with his high school band. The band had recruited a horn player from GuG's school. While in China the horn player mentioned that she had a friend from his neighborhood and did he know _______? He had a long time ago, and asked the horn player if, when they got back to San Diego, she would ask GuG if he could call her? She did, Sure he could, He did--the rest is history, they've been together since their first date.
All that book learning played off, as she won a scholarship to Occidental College, where she majored in
Chemistry and minored in Theater. Music Man also graduated from Oxy. He now has a "real" job, they live in a cozy gatehouse, and she's at community college doing some prerequisites for applying to pharmacy school.
GuG has always realized that even though she didn't have a "traditional" family, she was treasured by a lot of people.
It's really strange that she looks exactly like one of "us," much more so than she does like either of her biological parents or half-siblings. Somehow, I think the universe knew what it was doing!
As a parent, it is an untold relief when you get a child through college and into adulthood. And it is a delight when you can look at a child you raised, and think "Wow, I did something right." GuG is smart, beautiful, mature, and happy. What more could you want?
Happy Birthday!
Wish we were there (or you were here)!
Oh Jenn, what a beautiful story about a beautiful girl!! She is so precious and you are all so lucky to have each other!! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl - I hope it is wonderful! See you soon - Kellan
Posted by: Kellan | February 25, 2008 at 12:07 AM
She's beautiful! What a great story. I have a 23-year-old too. Jenn, we need to have coffee or similar, and soon!
Posted by: Cheri | February 25, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Lovely, sentimental tale. What a lovely birthday gift for her.
Posted by: Hilary | February 25, 2008 at 04:53 AM
If I had just met you and your family and knew nothing about who was who and whose, I would just believe that she belonged to you...she really does resemble you and your kids!!
Happy Birthday, Grown-Up Girl...bask in the love that is your family, they are your light and your warmth when you need them!!
(What an awesome post, Jenn!!)
Posted by: debbie | February 25, 2008 at 07:14 AM
She's lovely!
Happy (late) birthday!
Posted by: CircusKelli | February 25, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Awww...sweet story for a beautiful young woman. You are lucky to have each other.
Posted by: MamaBird | February 25, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Happy Birthday Grown up Girl.
It is an amazing thing that you did - take your niece into your family and bring her up as one of your own.
Posted by: Reluctant Blogger | February 25, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Found you via Tootsie.
Happy birthday, GuG! This was such a great post and such a great story. Thanks for sharing it!
Posted by: Burgh Baby's Mom | February 25, 2008 at 11:12 AM
she's gorgeous and obviously fabulous! and this coffee that you and cheri are talking about? me too, please!
really, though, awesome post, lucky you.
Posted by: kate | February 25, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Happy Birthday to Grown Up Girl! What a beautiful girl!
Posted by: LifeAsIKnowIt | February 25, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Happy birthday to a beautiful spirit! Families don't ever come neatly packaged - even the ones that seem zipped up nuclear and tight. Great to know yours!
Posted by: Minnesota Matron | February 25, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Happy Birthday GuG!! And what a sweet tribute to her.
Posted by: Tootsie Farklepants | February 25, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Happy Birthday, GuG! She looks like a girl who knows she's much loved. (And families come in all shapes and sizes...)
Posted by: Alesia | February 25, 2008 at 02:06 PM
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl.
Posted by: kcinnova | February 25, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Beautiful story, and a happy belated birthday.
Posted by: Fannie | February 25, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Well done Jen - that is a wonderful story.
Posted by: Domestically Challenged | February 25, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl!
Posted by: Mrs. G. | February 25, 2008 at 04:47 PM
How beautiful she is and you are the MOM! I could wave at her I live that close!
Posted by: JCK | February 25, 2008 at 05:18 PM
What a beautiful daughter! She is lovely.
Posted by: Christine | February 25, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Families that come together in less than conventional ways tend to appreciate each other more, I think!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
KEEP BELIEVING
Posted by: Angie | February 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM
That was a beautiful story you wrote for her and about her. She surely is a treasure just as YOU, her very special mommy are too.
Happy birthday GuG.
Just Because
Posted by: Jules | February 26, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Happy Birthday to you lovely daughter,I can relate to spending birthdays apart.I spent my 20 th birthday in Sacramento ca.at McClelland AFB getting ready to go on a tempory duty assignment.
I did that a lot.I spent a lot of birthdays apart from my parents.especially after I got married when I turned a FOOLISH 21 years old.
any way I got off on a tangent,sorry about that.I truely hope that you and your have a great day every day.
Posted by: mike golch | February 27, 2008 at 11:55 PM