The Gift of a Godmother

Alyce was my godmother. She held me when I was first born and I calculate her anniversary with Bill based on my age. They were set up to meet one another the same day they met me, 44 years ago, new to the world. I suppose that is when Alyce first started loving me.

 “Uncle Bill and Aunt Alyce” married and became our next door neighbors in Michigan. I am told that I would sneak over frequently, calling “Ya Ya…Ya Ya”.  Alyce told me I’d sometimes come over sans diaper and that my brother would come over begging for cookies. Even as young kids, we were drawn to her.

I called her “Ya Ya” because I couldn’t pronounce “Alyce”. When my daughter, Sydney, was born, she also called her “Ya Ya”. Sydney would sit beside Ya Ya knitting, drawing, playing and waiting for a good story. She too was drawn to Alyce. We all were. How could we know at such a young age how wise she was? …Somehow we did.

I would seek Alyce’s advice through middle school and high school. I would visit her in various states through college and beyond. When my parents split up, Alyce was our nucleus. She kept our family together.

I can count on one hand the amount of Thanksgivings and/or holiday seasons that I haven’t spent with Bill and Alyce, playing cards around a table, sharing stories and laughter. They’d come to California or I’d fly to Colorado. We’d congregate in Palm Springs and eventually settle down in the great Northwest. Being with Alyce feels like home. And I will miss that feeling.

Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Alyce gave me a lot to smile about. I was captivated by her stories, even stories retold. Just when I thought I’d heard them all, she’d surprise me with a new one and I’d burst out laughing. There was this song she’d sometimes sing backward and I’d tear up and struggle to breathe because I’d laugh so hard.

For 44 years, I got a birthday card from Alyce, always on time. I didn’t understand how amazing that was till I grew up and tried to keep track of other’s birthdays and get cards to them on time. Same goes for how she would plan out meals for our visits and for Thanksgiving and make it all appear seamless.

Bill and I had to pull off our last Thanksgiving with Alyce. She could not join us for the meal, but when we went to visit her in the hospital that evening, she looked like an angel. I suppose that’s what a godmother is…a little piece of heaven that blesses us on earth.

I will miss her terribly, and I will cry because it’s over (sorry Dr. Seuss). Then I will remember her stories and her songs and her wisdom and 44 years of cards and memories and I will also smile because it happened.

I love you Ya Ya. Always have. Always will. Thanks for your wisdom and for showing me a path to the high road. I promise to take it.