Dear Grayson,
How are you doing little guy? Are you adjusting well to being the newest member of the Murphy clan? You're already 2 1/2 weeks old! Time passes much too quickly. I could not have been more honored or excited last week, when your mama asked me to be your God-mother. I'm sad to have to miss your Christening, coming this Sunday, but hope you enjoy all the attention you're sure to receive on your special day.
First, let me tell you a bit about me and your mom: we go back. Way back. In fact, I was reading greeting cards just yesterday (while waiting for my car to be washed; standing around reading greeting cards is not something your God-mama does to pass time or anything) and came across one that read "Some friends stick together...but I think we may be crazy glued". That is your mama and I, crazy glued. And maybe a little bit crazy, too.
Boy, we spent hours and hours together back in the day doing...what? Well, talking mostly. Which we can still do, by the way. In fact, when you were still in your mama's belly, there were a good many nights when your mom and I stayed up way too late chatting over tea. I remember our walks around Old Bay Bulls Road for "exercise" (when we stopped at the Red Circle for Starburst and sour candy snacks to munch on while on our route), practicing walking down your Nanny Murphy's front steps in our high heels in preparation for high school graduation, sitting on our "locker pillows" between classes during our first year of university. Your mom and I have shared countless good times, tears, secrets.
Your mom has always had the corniest sense of humor, and I can still count on the captions she writes under her photos to crack me up (must have been all that practice she gained from our co-editing of the yearbook). She fills in my (numerous) memory gaps, without her I don't think I'd recall half my life. Sadly, grown-ups don't always keep in touch like they should. But she is the friend who, no matter how much time has passed, I can call and feel like I'm continuing yesterday's conversation with. When she asked me to be your God-mama, she told me I was her oldest and dearest girlfriend, which made me tear up immediately. She is my oldest and dearest girlfriend too. I hope that you'll know friendship like your mama and I have in your lifetime.
Way back when, your mama and I had some very similar plans. I was thinking of either medicine or possibly education, and she was planning on becoming a lawyer (though math was always her strength). More than 15 years later, our lives could not have turned out more different - me married with no kids, moving from one place to another in a bit of a "traveling fraggle" lifestyle; she, also married, living back home with four beautiful children.
Yes, you are your mama's fourth child, a fact that has earned her a good number of shocked looks and raised eyebrows as of late. A couple of years back, she came and picked me up in her minivan for a night on the town, and it was so very odd to see her drive such a vehicle. Luckily she and daddy decided on that purchase, because the Murphy family wouldn't all fit in one car for outings. On the telephone recently, I heard Jarod refuse to take his asthma medication, Spense throw up because he ate too much pizza and chocolate milk, and Sydney almost tip you out of the carrier, which mom had placed you in to sleep. I felt overwhelmed just listening to all the goings-on. But your mom is an amazing woman and a wonderful mother. You are surrounded by love from she, your dad, your siblings and a circle of extended family and friends. You are a lucky little guy.
I want you to know that I take the role of being your God-mama seriously. I find the title a bit intimidating - after all, though I have been doing a lot of thinking about my spirituality as of late, I am by no means a religious person. Yet a God-parent's role is so much more than that, I think.
Of course, traditionally one aspect of the role was to be the one who would raise you if anything happened to your mom and dad. Though I'm not certain mom or dad would trust Dean and I with such responsibility (after all, what do we know about raising a child?), you know if mom decided four is just too many and wanted to drop back down to a more manageable three, we'd take you in a heartbeat.
As your God-mama, I vow to expose you to things you may not otherwise get to see or do as one of four kids, celebrate your life's big and little events, be the one to get you that really cool (fill in what is cool and hard to get depending on age) when it seems impossible to find, encourage your crazy dreams, and help you grow into the very best person that you can. I hope I can foster a special relationship with you, whether we live next door or a world away from one another. Being the youngest of four, it's inevitable that there will be times you feel a little lost in the shuffle. I hope that I can make you feel as special as you are and help you believe you can do anything you put your mind to.
I have a wonderful God-mother of my own - my dad's sister, my Aunt Mickey. When I was fairly young, she moved from Newfoundland to the big city of Toronto. Her life seemed so exciting! The first time I was on a plane alone was when I went to visit her, which I did for few summers in a row during my high school years.Those visits were so much fun. Mickey treated me like an adult though, looking back, I was anything but. During our late-night chats, my self esteem blossomed, she made me feel like I could do anything. She was one of the reasons I succeeded in college and continue to do so today.
I'm sad that I cannot be there for your Christening this weekend, but your mama very sweetly asked if my mother would like to stand in for me at the church. Of course she agreed, and it looks like you may be getting a two-for-one deal with us - my mom would love a grandchild, and already the term "God-grandmother" has been thrown around.
By the time I get to meet you, you'll already be two months old! You'll have already left that brand new baby look behind, but I hope you'll still have that sweet baby smell. I hope that I turn out to be the best God-mama you could ever want. I can't wait to meet you little guy!
Love,
your God-mama
P.S. I don't know if I'll still have the Audi TT convertible when you graduate from high school. But if mom and dad are still driving a minivan and Dean and I have something cooler, I'll make sure it's available for your high school graduation. Don't worry, no God-son of mine is driving his date to the prom in a mini-van.
I couldn't possibly have chosen a better God-mother than you! Looking back on our years together, you have become more than just a friend, you are family...I can't even express how pleased I am that you will be there for Grayson no matter the distance or circumstance. (I'm sure he will be just as pleased to see a 'Vintage Audi' upon graduation..hahahaha.) This letter is not only a treasure for him, but for me as well. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Even though I might have extra crazy hormones right now, this letter has me tearing up regardless. Your mom will be with us on Sunday, but we'll certainly be thinking about you as well. Love and miss you a great deal. Can't wait to see you again soon.
Posted by: Nance | May 12, 2010 at 09:21 PM