there's a tutu hanging in my closet.......

.....and it doesn’t belong to me. It hangs just inside the door on the left side, on the top hanging rack. It greets me with its multiple layers of glittery pale pink tulle, all fluffiness and frou-frou. Most days I stop and just gaze at it, imagining the sweet girl that will someday fill it. I finger the fabric, as if straightening the wrinkles and smoothing the layers will somehow make her appear more real.

In my mind she is rushing through the house giggling, jet black hair flowing, our dog Boo at her feet. Or maybe she is playing hide-and-seek with Eli, or running to find Jacob and give him a hug. She might be rushing on her way because she heard her biggest brother strum, and she wants to go watch his fingers delicately work the strings of his guitar. Of course, she might have heard the garage door opening…. and she well knows who’ll be coming through that door, and has sped away from whatever she was doing, to run into Daddy’s arms.

So the tutu hangs there, and reminds me that she is coming. Soon.

And I cannot wait.

(written February 22, 2008)