My sweet baby girl Eliana Mary Clay was born at 3:49 AM on October 14th, 2017. Her life began however, exactly 40 weeks earlier on the day I sat with my dear Grandma Betty and sang with her until she slipped peacefully into her last sleep. I’d like to think that Grandma ending her journey the day that Eliana began hers allowed them to meet along the way. I think of her often as I sing to my baby who has yet to mature in all her other senses outside of hearing; not so differently from those on their deathbed who cling to the sound of love in the voices around them to the very end. Interestingly enough Grandma Betty wasn’t the first of my loved ones that I walked with to the finish line. My Grandma Mary passed in a similar fashion; more slowly, but nevertheless with much singing. Eliana was due on her birthday exactly 95 years later. She almost made it too! Promptly starting my extensive labor at 5:00 AM that morning. From conception to arrival my baby has been encircled by the memories of wonderful women who loved me well and by the holiness of song.
