Welcome to the World

I have other things I want to write about, including wrapping up my Boskone report and talking about this weekend. But right now, there’s something just a bit more important to say.

Welcome to this spinning globe, Grace Batya Rivkis. May you discover it’s wonder in your time, and make your mark upon it. We are all of us blessed to live in the time that you arrived.

Here’s a song written by another parent on the occasion of the birth of his daughter.

Madeline Rose
by Tom Willner

I thought a lot about what to say
On the day of your birth or any other day
You’ve got so much living ahead
Would it ever really matter what I said today?

So I wrote down a few words to leave with you
Whenever you’re feeling blue that you could listen to
You are beautiful and you are smart
Always pay attention to what’s in your heart and who

It’s not always easy, no it seldom seems fair
It’s fine to change your mind or the colour of your hair
Don’t accept the bad ’cause that’s the way it’s always been
‘Cause everything changes every now and then

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The fish keep swimming and the birds still fly
It starts at the ground and reaches up to the sky

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The dogs keep barking and the cats meow
Plan for tomorrow, but live for now

Madeline Rose, nobody knows what you will see
Twenty-five years from now, where will you be?
As long as you are happy
As long as you are free
As long as there’s a smile waiting just for me

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The fish keep swimming and the birds still fly
It starts at the ground and reaches up to the sky

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The dogs keep barking and the cats meow
Plan for tomorrow, but live for now

Oh, as long as you are laughing
As long as you are free
As long as there’s a smile waiting just for me

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The fish keep swimming and the birds still fly
It starts at the ground and reaches up to the sky

You picked a fine time to be alive
They picked a mighty fine time for you to arrive
The dogs keep barking and the cats meow
Plan for tomorrow, oh yes, plan for tomorrow,
Plan for tomorrow, but live for now