With delicate blue eyes like her father, she came into this world like a little songbird out of a cage.  The doctor said, “It looks like an Eden.”  As a baby, she sang the household awake with her gentle cooing.

Like the blissful place she is named for,  she is lushly beautiful in spirit and countenance.  If you took her at face value, you wouldn’t believe under any circumstance that she could have earned the nickname “Killer”.  Eden has an iron will, and she’ll try almost anything once — provided it is in line with her sense of justice, fairness, compassion and honesty – and of course, humor.  There is something disarming and quite stunning about her sense of humor.  It’s madcap, slipped-on-the-banana-peel, where-did-that-come-from kind of jocularity that sneaks up on you and next thing you know, you’re throwing your coffee cup into the air.  One summer morning at McDonald’s I was enjoying my coffee as Eden was supposedly enjoying the playscape.  Without warning, she slipped quietly behind me and exclaimed “BOO!”  My coffee cup sailed through the air.  For a second, we were both startled – me for the shock of having my sweet child scare the dickens out of me, and her for not expecting me to throw my morning peace keeper into the air.  We laughed for hours after that.

Another Eden surprise:  For the dance recital in 2008, she flew to Houston to see me perform!  Being a college student at the time, she worked out the arrangements and paid for her flight – just to surprise me and see me dance onstage.  Since my teacher relocated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina, that is where I’ve continued my classes with her.  I was already excited that my partner Tricia was coming to see me perform.   As I poised myself to give Tricia a big hug at the airport gate, my jaw dropped when I saw her with Eden in tow!  Good thing I didn’t have a coffee cup in my hand!  I had often wished that my children could see a live Bharatanatyam performance and be able to hear the live intricate Carnatic music, but I never really pictured that I would look out into the audience and actually see Eden there!

About those two years on a mission …  In 2004, Damien was called to serve in Belgium and northern France for two years.  My sanity lost its moorings a bit that first year.  Not knowing exactly where he was, and the lack of communication, proved to be more than I could really stand at times.  But that was just my experience.  I can’t imagine what it was like to put your life on hold at 19 to go to a strange land and try to convince people to join your religion.  And speak French.   These things Damien did without question or hesitation.  He never complained, often finding humor in situations that weren’t so funny while they were happening.  He was more than just a “salesperson” for his church – he reached out to people in need and gave encouragement however he could.  In his letters, he spoke warmly of the people he spent time with – people from all walks of life and religious beliefs.  When he returned, I rediscovered him – he was now a man of courage and compassion.  This is a spiritual man.  I still cannot believe I am his mother.

Damien & me 2003

Elder O & Friend

NY 2002

Wedding Day

I enjoyed lunch today with my best childhood friend, Sharon.  With our iced tea glasses, we toasted the fact that we’ve known each other for almost 40 years!  One of the earliest memories I have of growing up in Norco was Sharon being crowned Queen at the Sacred Heart of Jesus School Fair.  We were six years old.  She was the prettiest girl – and I must say that she still deserves the crown!  We’ve lost our childhood photographs, including the ones from that event, thanks to Hurricane Katrina.  But she still has the crown!

Sharon’s parents became my godparents when I was baptized into the Catholic church around the time of that fair.  I loved going over the my Nanan and Piran’s house.  They were an amazing Italian family  – always cooking and laughing together.  There was a bit of competition in the kitchen over which of them was the better cook.  There was often music floating from their deluxe record player / stereo system in the living room.  Sometimes, Nanan and Piran would dance together to the music. 

A few years ago, Sharon showed me the Italian way to make spaghetti and meatballs.  For all my attempts to copy her art of cooking, she still gets the crown!

Sharon & Friends - High School

Nanan

Piran

My #1 daughter  Eden is the first to graduate!  (Damien sacrificed two years of his life to serve a mission for his church in Europe.  He’ll graduate in April!)  Here she is, showing the world that she is the #1 graduate, before her big brother Damien!  She is going to be the very best schoolteacher ever!

As requested by Natalya, we took a swamp tour recently.  About 13 years ago, I took the same swamp tour with Damien, Eden, Sally and my niece Gracie.  Way back then, the boats were not covered.  We roasted.  Damien and I were relieved when we saw that the boats were covered this time!  We were happy to see that some things remained the same – such as alligators that like marshmallows.

Everyone wants to ride on Tricia’s bike!  She’s an excellent driver.  Here she is with two of her favorite passengers:

Eden and I went to Bicycle Michael’s in the Quarter recently, where we saw interesting artwork:

Sally is a Jazz Fest veteran.  Our folks didn’t take us to New Orleans much when we were growing up, so Sally explored the mysteries of the Quarter on her own.  As soon as she taught herself to drive, she ventured all over the City.  The end of April found my sis skipping school with her boyfriend Kenny at the Fest in its early days.  She remains a faithful follower even though she now lives in California.  When the magnolia blooms start to pop like popcorn, my summer dreams reappear -  my children are on their way for the summer, and Sally is grooving at the Fest. 

My #1 son Damien created this great blog for me!  This is a super summer – with Damien, his wife Natalya, my daughter Eden, and my sister Sally visiting!  Damien and Natalya have hitched their wagon to our star this summer.  They are living with Tricia and I for 3 months while Damien works an internship with our company.  Eden enjoyed her first Jazz Fest, along with Sally who is a Jazz Fest veteran.

I cannot believe my luck!  I am amazed to find Damien and Eden spending so much time in our fair city – and to add Natalya to the mix – WOW!  I must have done something great in a past life.

It is certainly the summer of Durga, the Mother Goddess.