TO WRITE: The Youngest, the Oldest

OK, so I've got babies on the mind. . . humor this new mom. (See earlier post today.) As my beautiful little one seems to do something new everyday -- she is soooo close to crawling -- I'm terribly impressed by her rapid developments. Our accrued learning over a lifetime is amazing.

Play with this. . .
Describe the youngest person or the oldest person you've known. What stories do you recall about this person? What have you learned from her or him? My paternal grandmother, who I knew well, lived in reasonable health to 97 years of age. In China we met a 96-year-old man who was fascinating in his physical flexibility and apparent health. He said daily tai-chi was his secret. On the other hand, the youngest person I've known well since I've been an adult is definitely my new daughter, just turned 10 months old. I'm adoring watching all the changes she's made in just the month we've known her, and I know I'll learn a tremendous amount as we evolve as a family. I think that reflecting on all three of these people will be a help when I'm feeling really low.

TO READ: I'M BACK -- HAVING RECEIVED A GREAT BLESSING!!

After a several-week hiatus on two continents, I'm thrilled to be back in the blogosphere . . . and delighted to report that my husband and I are now proud parents of a 10-month-old baby girl! We spent two weeks going through the adoption details in China (after three years of going through adoption details in the U.S.), then made our way home just as the Olympics began there. All three of us are adjusting well and snuggling a lot, playing on the floor a lot, and dealing with wakings at 2am. Couldn't be better, even with having to just snatch a minute here and there to answer email, write blogs, take a shower. . . .

A few years ago I would not have thought there was a chance in the world that I'd ever become a parent as I had hoped. I was in the hospital too much, getting too much ECT, obsessed with harming myself; I was seeing and hearing things. I was too ill with my depression to work, study, or function very well socially, much less be responsible for another person's life too. And then there were all the issues around how my meds might affect a pregnancy, and how a pregnancy might affect my moods. But, lo and behold, a solution arrived as my recovery progressed these last three years or so. I feel tremendously grateful to the Universe for this opportunity, and it makes me want to say to everyone that there IS hope for better things, even when your health is very poor. Persevere, educate yourself, try different things and remember you are valuable. And write -- for clarity, understanding, peace and planning your recovery. Write.