a love note

This post is from Jenna’s mom. I hijacked her blog. 😉

On midafternoon of October 23, 1975, an extraordinary event occurred: A comet was seen dancing across the skies and a beautiful new soul took form. Her name was Jennifer Lynn, and she was a dark-haired beauty.

Fast forward to Jenna (as she now called herself–and insisted that everyone else call her) to the night of her one-time-only dance recital. Though her little group of girls consisted of maybe a dozen kids, Jenna might as well have been the only one on the stage. She played to the audience, right out in front — she was having a ball and the audience loved it.

Fast forward again and once again she is performing again—this time in “acapella”, a little singing group some of the local teens had created for themselves. The audience was larger than we had expected and nearly filled the church. They went from one piece to another and then one jazzy number broke into a “skat song ” by Jenna, pleasantly surprising her mom and (step)dad. Fluid and high in pitch, her voice once again made one think of her heavenly and cosmic beginnings.

On the day she took her vows to wed our second son, Terry Magee, she was an ethereal Being. Rustling, silky sounds surrounded her when she moved. It was, of course, one of the most joyful days in her life. But the funny part is–it was one of the happiest of mine. My heart was so full, I smiled ’til my face hurt.

These little cameos are just some little memories that I carry within me, to be pulled out over and over like a favorite photo. Of all the thoughts I hold of you, Jenna, these are just the ones that come to mind now. I won’t tell the world the stories of how you spent your entire allowance on candy at “Leslie’s Corner’; of how you bought Swedish fish candy then ran around in circles laughing’ til you’d run into something, then drop to the floor, crying. (How were we to know that red food dye made you crazy?)

Remember our apartment where you and I lived together, alone, watching Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, and L.A. Law? We were bachelorettes for a year. Kinda neat, huh, despite the changes we were learning to live through. We became good friends then, partly due to our need for each other, but eventually becoming even closer as you grew up?

All her life she has been an extraordinary soul-expression. With everything she touched she met success. But more importantly, she became such a loving, sensitive, and giving person. When you are around her even for a short time, you become aware of her intrinsic sweetness.

To say that I am proud of you, Jenna, does so little to cover my feelings as you near your 30th birthday. I wish you could see you as I see you. Lovely, generous, multitalented—there is nothing about you I would change even if I had the power.

Thank you, sweetheart, for coming into my life and gracing it so.

Love

Mom