on food poisoning and borscht

Jake was hit harder than I was. My uncle reminded me that is most likely because Jake ate more than I did. Fair enough. Jake ate about twice as much as I did and I think it is true to say he was in twice as much pain from the food poisoning. He took about twice as much time to recover. He spent at least twice as much time in the bathroom.

Food poisoning is certainly a result of the fall of man. We can all agree on that, yes?

So, sadly, Jake did not make it to the Ukrainian Christmas celebration for which I had been counting down days and enjoying the little knot of excitement in my throat in anticipation of Alice's first blessing. Instead, he was home in bed, nursing an empty, ache-y body back to health. My dad drove 2 hours each way to transport Alice and me to dinner- I was still too weak to make the drive solo- and then I caught a sleepy ride home with my sister's family. By the time I stumbled into our home at midnight I was shakey and beyond fatigued. I don't remember much of the celebration, but I am still grateful to have been a part of it. It was worth every moment of backseat nausea and dizzied conversation.

You can't keep our family apart- food poisoning, illness, divorce, even death. We are a unified force of nature, spanning generations and propelling the honest truth that love prevails and laughter heals. My dad made a toast in Ukrainian. My cousin's toddler sons provided the soundtrack for the evening- sweet, feisty, funny voices. Alice did her highchair dance and listened intently as my mom read her blessing. Her first blessing:

Dear Alice,

It is with great joy we celebrate this first Ukrainian Christmas with you. You are a delight in every way and we are so thankful you have blessed our family by your presence.

It is our prayer that your life will be one which brings peace to the downhearted and you will have the words to build up those around you. We pray you will have a sensitive heart that is also strong and courageous. We pray you will have a heart that longs to follow righteousness and spread God's good will.

Our blessing this year is also for your parents. Parenthood has just begun and your parents have experienced both exhaustion and exhilaration. They are already endeavoring to lay a foundation for your life. In their wisdom, they know they are not doing it alone. Each one of us has a part in the building of you up, and we join hands and hearts with your mom and dad as you grow. We will choose carefully how to invest in your character and life.

Your heritage is rich and though you never got to meet Grammy, you have a piece of her in your character. The same goes for Meema and Grandpa Brown. They are part of you. You carry on their goodness. We are so grateful.

So, with this gift may your parents be reminded we are invested in the building of you up and your roots go deep. God has readied you for awesomeness!

Love, Babah and Papa

Amen.

The thanks I give will never be enough, but I'll write it anyway- thank you Babah and Papa. And not just for the leftovers, which were Jake's first post-poisoning meal aside from dry toast. This is not just a thank you for giving us the last bit of borscht, for the Ukrainian cookies Jake shamelessly ate for breakfast all week, for the compote and kutia and stuffed fish. Not even just for opening your home, filling it to bursting year after year, sharing this intimate tradition with boyfriends and boyfriend's sisters. Its not just a thank you for any of those individual things, but a for all of it and more. This is one of those "greater than the sum of its parts" situations. Bringing us together, feeding us extravagantly, speaking words of reflection and hope over the children present- it all speaks volumes to the way in which you've chosen to live and give in this life. Its big while being beautifully small too. Sitting in that tight dining room, I couldn't help but think of the journeys and stories represented and how my mom and dad have been present and generous through them. Achingly invested in them. Oh, Linda and Steve- thank you.