My Brain Has Left the Building

But my joy is tripled!

Many moons ago when I was a new mom with my daughter.

I cannot possibly write about my book today. It is impossible for . . . wait, what’s that?

What did you call me?

Was it. . .

New Grandma?

Oh yeah, you did!

As of 8:42 a.m. to be exact when our daughter sent the text, “She’s here!”

A new granddaughter.

I am sublimely happy. I cannot fathom forming a solid sentence for you because I must—immediately—write to her.

What I Wish

This is what I wish for you, darling girl.

You will come to know me as Grandma Jojo and perhaps someday find out that I wrote a book and maybe one day even read it. But it’s OK if you don’t because your mama is the epitome and essence of the woman I imagined Jo van Gogh to be. Resilient. Takes no prisoners when seeing through bullsh*t.

Up for wild rides fueled by her heart.

And so, I wish you your mama’s strength but also her humor. Her kindness. A lightheartedness earned by the wisdom of hard-won trials surviving past toxic people and coming out the other side. (Once when I complained about annoying work mates your 20-something mom calmly patted my arm. “Everyone’s got a little crazy, mama.”

Oh, that helped. It was just their crazy I saw. Hiding saner attributes.)

See what I mean? And so, I wish you hours and hours of hearing stories. There are so many! For it’s so short-sighted and ridiculous—this current cultural effort to take down statues and ban books and rewrite accounts about strong women from the past who rose up to right wrongs—as if courage can stay mute.

Inane of them.

As though the erasure can silence the teaching written in our cells, whispered in the dark, nestled in our sterling hearts.

I’m biding my time.

For, oh, you have inherited a legacy!

And I would wish you a good head on your small shoulders but you have already demonstrated solid smarts by choosing cool parents who have created a home where creativity abounds—whether in design or music or fighting off squirrels from flower pots—though your brother. . .I believe he will be a formidable partner/champion/challenger. In just his first two years he’s picked up some good life hacks (like carrying around a step stool to reach high places). Once more vocabulary becomes available, I’m confident he’ll have tricks to confide.

Oh, I relish the adventures your parents will have with you!

May you travel to farflung countries and cross this one coast-to-coast to hear new languages and different dialects and so see how big this world is and how ready it is for the unique gifts you will bring to it.

We’ve been waiting for you.

And you’re here.

With joy,