Happy Birthday, Marlena - pipTalk Forums

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Julie Jordan Scott
Member

since 1999-09-19

Posts 146
Bakersfield, CA USA

0 posted 1999-09-19 12:50 PM

My car came to a stop at the top of the cold, barren mountain.
Complete silence enveloped me so that the hammering of my
heart reverberated in my ears.

Slowly I opened the car door, allowing a blast of wind to assault
my hands and face. Grasped tightly in my right hand was a festive
balloon bouquet of twelve pink balloons with fuschia ribbons crowned by a
single shiny Mylar balloon emblazoned with the message: "I love
you."

I was to have been Marlena's seventh birthday. Other people no longer
remembered the significance of the date: February 9th. As her mother, I
could never forget the date that a piece of my dreams died. After that
date, my life would never be the same.

So it was alone with my memories of my firstborn that I stood atop the
cold California mountain, surrounded solely by scrub brush and a relentless
chilling wind.

"I will always love you, dear Marlena. Happy Birthday my precious baby."
With those words, I released the balloons. All twelve pink balloons quickly
skipped into the overcast sky as they seemed to be playing a spirited game
of duck duck goose or tag. Up into the sky, higher and higher they went.
As they climbed, I counted. There were only eleven pink balloons!

Where was the twelfth balloon?

I counter again. There were still only eleven pink balloons against the backdrop
of the sunless sky. Eleven balloons dancing heavenward.

I looked to my side and was immediately reminded of something else. I had
forgotten the balloon crown, the heart shaped balloon with the message of love
for my little girl.

Inexplicably, it had not flown towards heaven with its playful pink friends. It had
silently floated back to me, quietly swaying at about my waist level.

Eleven balloons reached the heights in the sky. The twelfth was gathered up by
Marlena. It must have been Marlena, who sent her message to her Mommy in
the only way she could. A heart shaped balloon with the words, "I love you". Happy
Birth Day.

------------------
Julie Jordan Scott is a Freelance Writer and Public Speaker,
but her favorite role is that of Mommy! Visit her website at
http://www.5passions.com

Christopher

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-02

Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration

1 posted 1999-09-19 03:02 AM

Welcome Julie, to passions!
I checked out your site, and found it to be very nice...despite all the kid stuff!

As to this story... at first I assumed it would be of little substance, then thought it would be poignantly sad, then thought it would be inexplicable, then found out that it was a sweet reminder that even though those we love may leave us in body, they remain in spirit, in the form of our love.
Bravo, and well come!

DreamEvil
Member Elite

since 1999-06-22

Posts 2396

2 posted 1999-09-19 04:15 AM

Welcome to Passions in Prose!

Official welcome out of the way and all, 'tis some excellent words you share with us. I find that I agree with Christopher's assesment of your site though I would add that we look forward to you gracing us with more here in Prose.

------------------
Now and forever my heart hears ~one voice~.
DreamEvil©

Tara Simms
Senior Member

since 1999-08-12

Posts 1244
Honea Path, SC USA

3 posted 1999-09-19 11:47 AM

Beautifully done, Julie. This brought tears to my eyes. I know your little girl will always remain in your heart.

------------------
Work like you don't need the money, love like it's never going to hurt, dance like nobody's watching.

Elizabeth

Moderator

Member Ascendant

since 1999-06-07

Posts 6871
Minnesota

4 posted 1999-09-21 08:18 PM

Oh dear, Julie-so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. Welcome to Passions! I loved this work of yours.

------------------
*Elizabeth*

"Dwelt a maid belov'd and cherish'd by high and low,
But with autumn leaf she perish'd, long time ago..."

"Something sweet, something sort of grandhish, sweeps my soul when thou art near..."

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