Today, my Babygirl turns fifteen. It may not mean much to you, and you may not think it means much to me, but it does. She's my favorite blond. She's my favorite sister. She's the only one I can tell everything to without being judged or looked down upon. I'm the only one she can come to for a throw-down of advice on every single topic she can imagine and talk to me about, without being embarassed or worrying about me telling someone else and the world finding out her secrets.
Today, my Babygirl becomes a woman. She's big and tall like me, but in her heart she's always been a little girl; scared, terrified of the world around her. If I let go of her hand today, it won't be for her to let go of my thoughts and heart, but to let her fly away into the independence of the beginning adulthood she doesn't know yet she has in her. I will always be here for her, a million miles away, but a million tears closer than she can imagine. She'll never need to look to hard to find her best friend, and she'll never have to wait too long for me to respond to her calling.
Today, my Babygirl has an entire day for herself. It's not about her sister, like it usually is, and it's not about her brother, like it sadly ends up being, but it's about her! Today everyone will look at her with a briliant smile and give her all the love and hugs I can't, because I'm stuck sitting here in Miami, wondering when it will ever be too soon for me to return. Today, they will see her in the hallway of school and stop, stare, smile, gleam with happiness, because today the world is de fiesta just for her.
Today, it's your turn, Babygirl, to shine.
Today, my heart is in New Jersey with you.
Today, today.
Today is your day.
