Felix Dies Natalis Tibi, Sacharia (July 10, 2009)

Fantastic photos of Zach shot by Scott Lunt (www.pixelshot.com)

Bite into a big blue forbidden birthday fruit plucked

from the Year-tree. Cannot believe it's been a whole year.

Dad says, "I remember the very instant you came,

watched you emerge into the world. Oh the rush of joy

that surged through me at that moment. Felt it all over my spirit.

I will never forget. The same joy I felt the day I married your mom.

Beside myself with joy."

Uh-oh! You've got that look in your eye! Here you come,
Michael Jordan tongue a-waggin'. Mom: "Gregariousness!
Strong-will! Fun-souled! He has made me lighten up!
I feel his love when tugs at my pant leg, reaches his arms up, laughs,
smiles, puts his head on my shoulder, picks his head back up,
smiles, puts his head back down . . ."

Dad: "You've got your Mom's brown eyes.
Brown-eyes don't usually pierce. Yours do.
As do hers. You've got an old soul,"
Mom: "He's got wisdom beyond his years . . .
looks like he's been here before,
the way he goes about things." He'll stare his way
into your innards until you interact!

A philosopher in the making?
Mom: "What goes on in that baby-brain of his, I'll never know!"
A pensive sifting of reality, I'd wager. Contemplation of a bird,
a dog, a never-before-met face.

Mom and Dad are always jealous on your behalf.
You were jealous for the first time.
You saw mom holding another baby and burst
into the realm of tears like a magician.
Your always sawing Dad in two. Always cuttin' him to the heart.

In addition to manifold friends, Grandma and Grandpa Bowen
were on the scene from UT. Despite the fact that you've only had one
thus far, how could this not have been the greatest birthday of all time?
Dad: "I've had 35 so far and this one was the best!"

The days go fast. They never come again.
Got to savor each moment like cool, clear drops
in a thirsty desert. Got to hold on to each moment tight
and hold on to the ones inside the moments even tighter!

How Can It Be?

How can it be a nickel short of a year already? The butterfly days
scatter themselves to the wind, knowing no hand can recover them.

Friday afternoon marked one year from the Thursday afternoon
that Suzy left work early for what was supposed to be
some supplementary maternity shopping, she'd hardly crossed
the threshold of Costco at Pentagon City Mall, when she knew . . .
knew that all our well-plotted plans were now fluid . . . Amniotic fluid.

Matt was just minutes away from the final Greek final
of his graduate career--Luke-Acts to be exact.
When Suzy got him on his cell after one failed attempt
he hit the July air like a bat out of the underworld oven,
careened down 16th street with all abandon,
shot onto 395 south, and down to the Pentagon City Mall
where he found soaked Suzy in front of Starbucks
being tended-to by a very good, very concerned Samaritaness.

The traffic statutes violated on the return pass through the District

we will pass over. How it could be that Suzy was at Holy Cross Hospital

in Silver Spring, MD where her M.D. works his miracles

just twenty minutes later, only the God of miracles can answer.

Zach did not arrive that day. Nor for the next seven. He was detained

by doctors who weighed the need to keep him wombed one more week
against the risk of in-utero infection. The amniotic fluid would replentish,

we were told, within his womb with a view . . .

And so, long sleepless hours began and lengthened into nights,

and visitors--nay, angels--arrived, bringing needed comfort

and encouragement to a barely-mobile Suzy, and a discombobulated Matt

Then, at length the Day arrived . . .

More on that in a day or five . . .

Anyhow, we hope you all can see and taste just a little

of how much this growing little miracle means

to two inexpert, but very grateful parents.