Welcoming Alla

I find that the older I get, the less it takes to make me happy. In my youth possessions and the acquiring of them gave me blissful moments. I could take a lovely crystal snowball into my hands, turn it to catch each facet of light, examine every nuance of color that erupted as the sun burst upon the surface and smiles would wreathe my face. That it belonged to me made me the happiest. That it was beautiful came in second. If I somehow lost or broke the object of beauty, it would bring me the strangest sadness. The sadness never lasted long because there was always something prettier, something harder to attain that would make me happy again. That was me as a selfish teenager. When I married I treasured my young husband for who he was, as well as what he was. It was a partially grown up feeling. I had just turned twenty. At twenty three when I held my first born son, the feelings that came over me were overwhelming. I couldn't stop looking at his tiny hands and feet, at the abundance of dark hair that covered his head, at the smiles he offered so soon and so often.

My second born brought me just as much joy and I marveled at how his face worked when he slept. His eyelids would twitch and his lips would echo the involuntary movements of those heavy lashed pale lids. I always wondered if he was dreaming. We were not sophisticated parents who spoke in full sentences of Mr Shakespeare or news of the world. We babbled baby talk and goo goo faces were the theme of the first two years. I treasured my babies and my husband above all else. I was finally grown up.

As they grew up and grew away, my friends became new treasures to me. Some I have kept for years, others have moved away and out of our lives. While we miss them, that we have lost contact is not life threatening. Should we hear from them again we would take up where we had left off. Maturity came along unexpectedly.

Mama had a pen pal that I believe she shared with my sister, Toni. Her name was Alla and she grew to love this young Siberian mother as she loved the many people who came into her life. She loved people above all. We learned from example. Mama wanted to send Alla things that would benefit her in life. She loved sending her little gifts and loved the gifts that Alla sent to her, as well. Her nesting dolls (she has several sets) were her treasures. After Mama died, I missed Mama's stories of Alla her friend who lived in Siberia. One day not so long ago, I mentioned to Toni that I wondered how Alla was doing. Imagine my surprise to learn that Toni still kept up with her and her family. She told me that she had sent Alla a copy of my book and from there that Alla was now reading my blog. It made me so happy to know that Alla was well and now had a computer of her own with which to keep up with the world! I only wish that the technology had been such when Mama was alive. What joy it would have given her to talk to her dear friend on a daily basis.

So, I have grown considerably from the child that I once was where things were important and people were afterthoughts. I am so thankful for a loving teaching family of Grandparents and Parents who taught us that ownership may be nice, but friendship is more constant.

I'd like to say "hello Alla! " I welcome you warmly to blog land and encourage you to start a blog of your own. I'll be a faithful follower!