My daughter Jori is sixteen years old today.
You can listen to my poem "Here is Someone" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLIOUvnOjA
Here is someone
When you were born sixteen years ago, whole, healthy, with
ten little finger and ten little toes. I thought this is enough.
When your frail little body fought colds, teething fevers, ear
infections, and chickenpox, and you and I made it through so many long
sleepless nights. I thought this is enough.
When you sat up, then you crawled, then you walked, then you
ran, then you skipped, I thought this is enough.
Then you spoke, your voice so foreign, so familiar, so
startling. I thought this is enough.
Then your teachers told me how intelligent you are, and I
thought this is enough.
Then you rode a bike, and learned to swim, and beat me at
monopoly and chess, and I thought this is enough.
Finding nothing to rebel against you rebel against your coat,
because who needs shit like warmth and comfort.
We stand in the middle of a store whisper shouting as I
persuade you to wear a dress for a photo I want us to take for mother’s day:
“No!” you stomp your foot
“Please” I plead.
“No!”
“Just this once”
“No!”
“Just for the photo”
“I’m not wearing a dress”
“Please Jori, do it for me? Just until the photo is taken,
you can change immediately after that!”
“Why would you want me to wear a dress when it would only
make me miserable?” You say.
We take the photo, you’re in jeans, and I think this is
enough.
Now you’re sixteen, you cut your hair short like a boy’s, you like baggy sweatpants, oversized hoodies, and you live in your Skate High Vans. You’re confident and in control when you fasten your seat belt and start the ignition, you look both ways, you reverse, you steer the car forward, you know where you’re going, you’re careful, you’re alert. For the first time since you were born I’m in the passenger seat. We get hot caramel lattes together, we talk about our favorite books, we laugh, we sing along our favorite songs, well I sing and your roll your eyes, and I think this is enough.
I remember reading somewhere: “life is hard, here is someone.”
Here is someone.
