Week 5

Dear Zayde,

This week I learned that blood is thicker than seltzer.

Bubbi reminded Mommy that Tante Goldie used to say that, and this week I found out what it means because Daddy's father, my Saba, came to visit me all the way from Israel.  He came in October to meet Mommy and Grandma, but before that, he hadn't seen Daddy in a long time.  (I know what you're thinking; for me, a long time is three weeks, which is more than half my current lifespan, but I mean a really long time, even by grown-up standards.)  Saba came to our home.  He held me and told me I am very special.  He told Daddy that he's very proud of him.  He asked Daddy if he's crazy for me, and Daddy said, "from the first moment I saw her."  Saba said that's how he knows I have a great Daddy, but I could have told him that already because my Daddy holds me and changes me and talks to me about securities law, the pitiful state of Dolphins football, and Mommy's many amazing attributes.  Clearly, I have the best Daddy in the world.

Saba made the decision to fly all the way here the day I was born.  Do you know why?  It was because Daddy sent him a very important photograph.  In the picture, I am about ten minutes old, and Daddy is holding me.  He's still wearing his surgical mask because we're in the operating room.  I am looking at him, and he's looking at me.  And it is clear that we are very much in love.  When Saba saw this, his heart told him to buy a plane ticket, to cross the oceans and continents between there and here, and to see his first grandchild as soon as possible.

So now I know what it means that blood is thicker than seltzer.  It means that family is forever, no matter what happens, no matter who says what silly thing to whom, no matter how far apart people become - in space, time, or ideas.  This week I learned that my family is full of people who love me, and some day, when I have an adequate vocabulary, I will tell each of them how much I love them, too.

Yours always,
Zelda