TO OUR CLOWN PRINCESS ON HER 3RD BIRTHDAY

Well, I started out to blog about Puddi, my puddacious daughter, for her upcoming third birthday. But words, my constant companions in everything I do failed me this time. I just couldn't find the right words to encapsulate what she means to me, how she lights up our lives, to describe her kooky personality and the things she does...So I decided to hand over my pen ( keyboard in this case) to my better 1/3rd, as he is far more gifted with words than I am, to tell our dear daughter how we feel about her.

All I can bring myself to say is that if I could have imagined a daughter and brought her to life, she would have been such a pale, insipid thing compared to my beautiful butterfly of a Puddi. You fill up my heart, darling. Happy birthday!

Love, Mama

Guest post by A

My dearest Puddi,

What can I say about you which words can capture adequately?

Let me try comparisons. There was Lucille Ball. There was Sridevi. And now there’s you. The same impish personality, and the same ability to make everyone laugh by doing something completely kooky, even as they’re gasping over how pretty you are. The same gift of just walking into a room and stealing a scene, simply by ensuring that no one can take their eyes off your face.

How about food metaphors? You’re like an ice-cream rolled into a lemon meringue pie, to which lots of cream has been added, with some spice on top for taste. And all that’s actually just in the first spoonful.

Hmm – let’s try just talking about life with you. I never cease to be amazed by how you can look like a tomboy in T-shirt and shorts, and transform into a little lady the moment you’re in a frock or a dress. I love how you wake up frowning with your wild hair all mussed, and then suddenly make the morning good by switching on that dazzling smile. Your thirst for adventure and desire for new experiences (inherited in spades from your mom) lift my spirits and remind me just how full of possibilities life can be. It’s a joy to watch you playing with your two brothers - I hope they’ll always appreciate what a loving, fun sister they have. It breaks my heart to see your small face crumple and tears roll down your soft cheeks if your mom or I scold you – it feels as if we’ve violated a sacred vow. I can’t bear the thought of anything so much as scratching you (that’s my alibi for being the exceptionally protective father that you’ll soon discover I am – your boyfriends better watch out!).

Nah. You know what, there’s no point in trying to describe you – it’s like chasing a rainbow with a butterfly net.

So let me just say that you’re a big chunk of my heart, that I didn’t know what having a daughter would change my life in so many ways, and that I already choke up when I think of you going away one day.

So have a very happy birthday sweetheart, and here’s hoping each of your birthdays celebrates a year which was better than the last.

You make us feel truly blessed. Thank you for being our daughter.


With all my love
Abba