Big things and little things

There’s one big thing:  Aloisa Rose Daschbach was born this week.  My first grandchild.

This is such a big thing that I can’t really write about it yet. I held her for a few minutes, but then she was caught up in high-tech health care (a little breathing support, a few tests and monitoring) and I was limited to just touching her. Now the tests are providing reassurance that all is well.  A very strong and determined little girl, Loi successfully removed her air tube and will soon be released, so I’m looking forward to lots more holding and rocking soon.  It looks like I’m not the only one to have that idea:

For the week before Loi was born, I was in Portland (more later) at a conference.   When she surprised us all by coming early, I went directly to Chicago, so I was away from home for 10 days. That’s a long time for me.

Here is one of the little things that is making me happy to be home again:  I’d given up on my fig tree.  I protected it all winter, brought it out in the spring, and tried to believe, but honestly it was just a stick which provided a nice perch for the birds but showed no signs of life.

But it’s alive!  Some day I will grow figs! 

Since it’s Father’s Day, I’ve been thinking about my own father and remembering his passion for growing things.  He always had a big garden, and mine is small, but I think we share a similar feeling about digging in the dirt.  That’s been something Jo has enjoyed as well, so I hope we have passed that particular joy on to Aloisa Rose Daschbach.  I look forward to seeing her discover her own passions and joys.