One Month

Today is OMAC's one month day. My camera's battery charger went missing after Christmas and we took the last pictures yesterday before the battery finally gave up the ghost, so that's why there are no accompanying photographs today, or for the time being. Tonight, as he does every Monday night at 6:26, the time of Olive's birth, Gene Nichols will recognize her during the Machias town band rehearsal, in which Rob plays trombone. Rob was absent from but one practice when he sat beside me as Olive was being plucked from my womb; since then she has become a mascot of sorts for the band, or at least Gene. I accompany Rob to Machias every week so that I can do our weekly grocery shopping, and the hour-long car rides each way always produce pleasant conversation. Olive and I will sit outside Gene's room at the University of Maine at Machias and listen to the band until 8, unless we're tied up in the downstairs bathroom with consecutive diapers and nursing sessions. These are usually quiet times, as the building houses few students during the hours we're there; we're met with an average of one bathroom visitor each week, allowing us plenty of privacy. Tonight was different, however. After the first college student came through to use the loo (how considerate she was! She apologized from within the stall, warning me that the flushing "might make some noise".), four young girls burst in in a manic frenzy. I didn't know why such youngsters would be at the college at that time. One of them, excited by the presence of a wee one, came and hovered over us as Olive nursed. A flood of preteens and a small handful of women chaperones followed, disrupting our peace like there was no tomorrow. One of the women looked at us and asked, "Is that Olive?" Surprised, I replied that yes, she was. Before I could ask how she knew, she said that they'd been upstairs and had heard all about her from Gene, and that today she was four weeks old. Wow. On our way home, Rob told me about Gene's gushing about her to the strangers. They're playing songs from the musical, Oliver, and at 6:26 they'll pull out that selection because of its containing Olive's name. Or when 6:26 rolls around, he'll let Rob choose the song they'll play. It'd be weird, except that Gene's so incredibly awesome that we feel lucky that he pays so much attention to her, and that her birth now plays such a pivotal role in his life. Olive must be the Chosen One.

It's been one wonderful month with you, Buggy. You're as sweet and lovely as they come. Your dad and I didn't think we could be any happier, but you've proven us wrong. We love you very much.