Wednesday, March 9, 2011

All Things Are Possible

She was so beautiful.

Steve thought she was 9 or 10, I guessed mid-teens.

Funny how an extra chromosome can create such an ageless wonder, an ambiguity of time-passed, the illusion of longevity. 

Funny how that same extra chromosome can create so much aesthetic perfection, the exotic almond eyes of fairy tale royalty, a pureness of heart and soul, a generosity and empathy found in few others, yet can be so painfully flawed in its ravages on so many of the functional human systems that sustain health and life.

I had already scanned the room, as I always do when faced with a busy, new environment, looking for that 1 in 691.  But this time my cursory glance brought back nothing. 

"That girl at the table over there has Down syndrome," Steve said, matter of factly. 

How did I miss her?  She was barely 20 feet away, sitting with her family.  The restaurant was loud and dark, so my oversight should hardly have been surprising.

Pushing her long blond hair out of her face in the easy, un-selfconsious way of someone comfortable in their own skin, she laughed at something her father said, tilting her head back, her mouth forming the words, "Oh, Dad!"  She perused the menu, practiced using a pair of chopsticks joined at the center with a band designed to aid a beginner, engaged in small talk. 

I couldn't help staring, trying carefully to avoid any sideways looks from her parents.  It's hard to stalk when my own child isn't with me.

I wanted to talk to them, to tell the girl how I admired her.  I remembered my prenatal fantasy of having a daughter I could go places with, do things with, of whose company I never tired.  I remembered how I thought all of that was gone forever after receiving Samantha's diagnosis, and how I have come to realize that the "fantasy" girl still exists.  Samantha is proof.  More proof was sitting at that table right over there.

All things are possible.

18 comments:

Annie said...

As always, I'm touched to tears. SO proud of you. XO

Jenee said...

Beautiful Becca! Absolutely beautiful. I too am drawn to almond-eyed beauties, a "stalker" if you will. I can't help myself. Very nicely written!

Magikelly said...

This is an absolutely beautiful entry!Keep up the amazing work.

Beth said...

Beautiful. Love your descriptive wording: ageless wonder, fairy tale royalty.
Just beautiful.

We do have our fantasy daughters, and they are totally amazing.

Unknown said...

thank you for making me smile!

my life: said...

yummy.
the end :)

The Holt's said...

This is beautiful and something I needed to hear today! Although I am reading this at work and now have tears :) Thanks for posting.

Annie said...

This is wonderful! I realized yesterday in St. Louis...I am a stalker. We ran into 3 equally gorgeous almond eyed beauties. I couldn't help but stare. I even had Ollie with me, but she's so small, I doubt they even knew I was in the club.

I am with you - I felt those same feelings, and now I have new feelings because I did get that perfect daughter :)

Cathleen said...

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Lacey said...

I'm so an almond eyed stalker as well! Love to hear all the stories about what they are doing in school and how "normal" they are! Thats what we need to show people. They are children and people above the Down syndrome!

Runningmama said...

I love this post...and the part about her age I can so identify with. I always scan the room too and when I do see someone with DS it is always so hard to even fathom a guess at how old they are...and I like it!

Heather said...

You know,I have a shirt,from "bandofangels.com"",if you haven't been to their site,you really should go,anyway,my shirt and my husbands,reads "1 in 600".We wear them with such pride but sadly we know,that number will change.But we will buy another and another,no matter what that number becomes because we we see the beauty and the magic and we know we are all so blessed.

*I also have the most amazing necklace from that site.It is a halo with a twist.Go check it out.I think you need one!I swear,I wear that one and my other,which I think you have too,all the time.

Melissa said...

I love this post, and knowing that the 'fantasy' girl is still there. I'm a stalker too, but often I have such a hard time identifying others almond eyes.

Carol N. said...

So, did you go and introduce yoursel?

We never know if we should or not - usually when I do -I'm glad we did. When I don't, I wonder if I was missing out, and regret not doing it.

JC said...

All things are possible...Beautiful, just beautiful :)

Pallavi said...

Loved your words.. Beautiful..
Last weekend I had similar encounter, this girl was 6 years old. And she was just like any other 6 year old. Chirpy, all over the place, talking to her father, smiling, giggling... Oh such experience calms you down..

CJ said...

Beautifully written. Just amazing. Thank you for sharing your words and your experience with us!

Anonymous said...

This post made me think of this video I saw not too long ago. Wasn't sure if you had seen it, but I thought it was really sweet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b7y9UYt_fM