Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.  Dr. Seuss,

These are the heart-tug days, when your only grand-daughter is half a world away, eight  time zones ahead. I could either be sad not to be there, which I am, or I can do what I can from here. Long distance grand-parenting is a new-norm challenge. My North African granddaughter on the edge of the Sahara, chose an Arctic Adventure theme for her birthday, I chose to decorate the snowball her and I made on her recent Canadian trip.

 In the spirit of Dr Seuss, I sent her poetic birthday wishes and a snowball picture.

Dear Maisha,

It is your ninth birthday, and there is no one you-er than you,

nor would I wish there to be, and that is truer than true.

How you love to imagine, you love many others

Including your mom and your dad, even your brothers.

How I wish I was with you, with you and the others.

You could paint me up and we could eat all the cake,

We would make up some poems, we could jump in the lake.

Or in the ocean, and swim like a dolphin, maybe a starfish,

Could be an Arctic creature … Oh I wish and I wish …

We’d have a girls’ night out, that would be fun you see

Cuz now you are thrice as old as when you were three.

You are nine times smarter than when you were one

There’s still so much fun to be had, funner than fun.

Oh Maisha, you are you-er than you

And that’s why I LOVE YOU, I love you I do!

If I could hop a plane, or board a train, or catch a fish

I’d be there in a flash, on my fish wish dish.

I’d give you a big hug in person. That would be de-lish.

But you—are you-er than you, and I am just me,

But because I’m your granny, I’m smarter you see.

Until you turn ten, and then the gig is up

by then you will know three languages, or maybe four.

You might start to think that Grandma’s a bore.

But for now listen up girl, to me and your mother.

She’ll show you the way, she’ll love you like no other.

How can I know that? Can that be true?

Cuz I’m your mother’s mother, and I’m older than new.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear girl, you are niner than nine.

You are finer than fine. Have lots of fun.

And CALL YOUR GRANDMA SOMETIME!

Missed the amazing cake, but thanks to technology, I read the poem to her, apparently she was smiling the whole time! Makes my heart glad.

Today you are you! Do what you do!