Hey Jude

May I share with you some happy news. It’s news that carries light and love in my heart.   My daughter Athena and her husband Mat’s first child arrived safely to our world. Their son was born at 6:03 a.m. on June 17th, just one day after his due date. As Athena related to our family, “ He was born after a long, tricky day of labouring and then finally an emergency C- section.” Despite not having things go as planned Athena and baby are thriving. Needless to say we, her parents, are much relieved and over the moon in love with our first grandson! And now about his name, Jude Ethan Oliver. His parents thoughtfully wrote: “We named him Jude after our favourite hopeful song (may he have poetry and music in his life!) and gave him the middle name Ethan meaning strong, so he can be resilient in and for this world, in these times. In this year of bushfires, a pandemic and social change and justice, we think of our little human as a Phoenix born from the ashes. “

Even though circumstances have led to the cancellation of our trip to meet our grandson in July and also the cancelled plans to be reunited with them in the U.S. in October (there were plans for Sofia, Aria , Daniele and Mike and I to meet Jude, Athena and Mat in Dallas) we are hoping that there will be a time in the not too far future that we can all be together. In the meanwhile we each carry one another in our hearts.

That thought brought the words of the poet e.e. cummings to mind.

“…and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)…” -e.e. cummings

Welcome sweet Jude to our family! And to my daughter Athena and my dear son in law Matthew we say this, “Jude chose wonderful parents.” You will share a sweet and most wonderful life together. We love you all!