Flashback Friday...Just-in-time

I found this picture while looking for another. Justin had asked me if I had a baby picture of him for a baby shower weeks ago, but I found it too late.

Since this baby just had his first baby...I thought I'd feature him here today. (Even though I know I have TWO brothers and I've already posted about Justin. What can I say, I love Jimmy, too...but it's all about the timing!)

I was just shopping for a gift for a friend of mine. When I walked in and started perusing the Kokeshi doll selection, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation the only two other people in the store were having. A customer was recounting the story of her newly discovered pregnancy to the cashier. She sounded bewildered as she told the story...like it still hadn't sunk in. Why was she less than beaming? Her oldest son is 15 and in high school (I knew I recognized her, although I don't know her) and her daughter is eleven. She's in her late thirties. I imagined myself in her position and thought, "Woah!"

She went on to tell the cashier (who I gathered this woman only knew casually) how her husband was so thrilled and wanted to tell everyone, but she wasn't ready. She's still trying to wrap her brain around it because she can't believe it's really happening.

I found what I wanted and made my way to the register. The woman apologized (for what I'm guessing was being in my way) and I said, "No...that's fine. Congratulations, by the way." She chuckled weakly and said, "Thanks...I guess you heard all that." I acknowledged I had...and all the sudden a realization hit me, and before I knew it, I was sharing it with this practical stranger.

I said, "I have two brothers, one older, one younger, and I was ten when my youngest was born...and he was the greatest gift. I helped to care for him, I always tried to spoil him as I got older...and a few days ago HE just had HIS first baby." (And here's where I started bawling in front of two women I've never met before...I HATE that about myself!) Her eyes started welling up with tears and she asked, "So you were close, then?" and I continued, "Very close. I always thought of him, worried about him, adored him...and even though I LOVE all my nieces and nephews, this one is different...and I think it's because I actually helped care for him as a baby. It's different when the one whose diapers you changed starts having his own babies. And it's just killing me that I can't be there to hold her."

So now she starts bawling, and tells me how her older two are so close, and how worried she was that her youngest would not have that...that the gap between them would be too wide. She said she felt so much better now and thanked me for sharing...and all three of us were crying now.

Some days, the randomness of life, doesn't feel so random. I think there was a reason I suddenly remembered I needed a Kokeshi doll. =^)