This Wonderful Life: To Posey on her fourth

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October 30, 2009

This Wonderful Life: To Posey on her fourth

Anonymous The Cooperstown Crier Fri Oct 30, 2009, 12:18 PM EDT

By Elizabeth Buchinger

So here we are, on the other side of 3-years-old, and it seems we both survived it intact. It wasn’t easy, but perhaps it made us both stronger.

I have never known someone who dove into each day with such joy and humor. You have an uncanny ability to create and then steal the comedic stage in almost every setting. Your ``pretending to nearly fall off a tightrope’’ routine is always a hit as we are being led to our table in a restaurant.

You’ve also really perfected what I like to call ``The Astonished Aside.’’

It’s as though you imagine yourself as the star in your own British sitcom, and every so often the situation at hand calls for you to do a wide-eyed take toward a camera seen only by you.

``Posey, did you know Abi and Ivy are coming for the whole weekend?’’ [Astonished Aside]

``What!? They are? Nobody told me!’’

And, of course, you are never afraid to work blue. Your skill at replacing key words and phrases with the word ``poopy’’ is unrivaled. For all your clownish nature, which takes long sojourns into the realms of mischief, your heart is as wide and open as a blue October sky.

You do not simply like people - you adore them with every ounce of yourself. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a running hug from you knows just how powerful that adoration can be.

You even adore your big sister, giving me great, happy hope that the two of you will share not only a childhood and a name, but a lifelong friendship.

And speaking of lifelong relationships, I think it’s perfectly admirable that you have already chosen your future husband at this tender age. And in that choice, you have exhibited good taste beyond your years. However, I think it would be wise for you to hold off on making anything official just yet. Who knows what the next couple of decades might bring.

Just look at what the last year has brought. A year ago, only your closest family could understand every word you said. Now you can entertain perfect strangers with elaborate stories about your family members.

You can snap your fingers and cross the monkey bars and very nearly whistle. I cannot wait to see what comes next, and what comes after that, and after that.

As a mother, it is nigh impossible to resist the urge to make predictions. I watch you put on a princess dress and grab a guitar, and I think, ``She’s going to be a rock star.’’ I watch you hang by your knees at the playground, and I think, ``A gymnast!’’ I watch your tightrope routine and think, ``The next Tina Fey.’’

But I know very well that all those predictions are idle amusements with very little connection to the future you will make for yourself.

But there are some things that I know for sure about you - things that will be a part of who you are no matter what you do.

You are strong, both in body and soul. You have a love that is as big and warm as the August sun. You have a mom, dad, brother and (eve, even) a sister who can’t believe their luck to be your family.

Elizabeth Trever Buchinger is happy to be a supporting player in her daughter’s Britcom. You can connect with her at www. moremindfulfamily.wordpress. com