June 6, 2008 | DA Series, Family Portrait, Life in General
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So you know that yesterday was my birthday, but it was also my niece’s graduation. It was an emotional but happy time.
Two months after I graduated from high school…
my niece, TK, was born. We hoped and prayed her eyes would stay blue, but they ended up becoming a light green (she gets it from her father’s side):
She’s not mixed, nor is her father white. As you can see, my mother (she’s half Indian) is light skinned and TK’s father–and his side of the family, which she favors–are light skinned as well.
I didn’t hold her a lot when she was a baby. I was afraid I would drop her. But as she grew up, I enjoyed playing with her, babysitting her, watching her grow and knowing she was going to be beautiful.
Her artistic talent showed up at an early age, evident in the way she liked to draw and color. I took credit for that, of course. LOL. She’s a reader, too, as are all the women in my family. Voraciously so.
As TK got older and started high school, I got to see more of her personality develop: smart, witty, funny, creative, opinionated, strong sense of self. And did I mention pretty?
Pretty beautiful, if you ask me. But don’t, because I’m biased.
She discovered drama, has grown to love it, wants to pursue a career. And who are we to stand in her way. We’re her family, her cheering section, her greatest supporters. We, who attended all her performances from kindergarten to now. We think she’ll do just great.
As all 48 students stood on the stage at the Orpheum Theater (Metropolitan Arts Institute is a small charter school), and we in the audience stood and clapped, and whooped and hollered, I turned to my sister and said “You did a great job.”
And then we pulled out tissues and started to cry. LOL.
TK is the inspiration behind the DA series. She is Draven in almost every characteristic and personality trait. It seems fitting that her life started the year I graduated from high school and now she’s doing the same on an important day for me. I am so proud of her I could bust a gut.
I think the greatest birthday present I’ve ever received–in my entire life–was watching her graduate.
For TK, may your dreams be big and your life fantabulous.
Technorati Tags: Orpheum Theater, Metropolitan Arts Institute
just a girl says:
Celise, that was a beautiful post. She is gorgeous, (love her prom dress, recognised it from Draven’s blog ;-)) and you should be proud. She sounds like a talented young lady (clearly gets it from her aunt!) and I wish her all the best.
x
JAG
Celise says:
JAG - I think she got it from me, too. LOL
Suzy :) says:
Get a load of those glasses on your Mom! Whoa!!!
Sorry I missed your birthday; I’m glad it was so awesome! We’ve been SO SWAMPED with packing, painting and moving! I’m glad to have some semblance of normalcy returning!
Anyway, thanks, as ever, for the great reads!
Celise says:
Suzy - LOL. I know! When I pulled the pic out of my photo album, I laughed. Looking at her now, her glasses are nowhere near as big.