First Letter to Elizabeth 10.13.23

Liza Jean,

Welcome to our family. All of us eagerly awaited your arrival. We even took a poll on when you would arrive. And arrive you did – on Friday, October the 13^th.  I think being born on that date means that you are going to be a very spirited young woman.

Your Dad called us to tell us that you were born at 5:59 pm, were 20 inches long and weighed in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces, weighing much more than your brother, who came a little early.  And I cannot wait to see how your relationship with James develops over the years.  It is good for children to grow up with siblings. It helps to learn that one is not the center of the universe. Yet, when I am with each of you alone, I want to make you feel like you ARE the center of the universe. Grandparents are allowed that.

When your grandma Gizzy received a text with a photo of you shortly after delivery with your mom and dad, the first of many photos I am sure we will receive, she was so relieved. It was then that we knew you had arrived safely in this world.

Because your dad injured his knee playing basketball before you were born, your grandma Gizzy will be in Boston in November for three weeks to help out.  So, she will see you before me. So, yes, your dad had to have ACL surgery right after you were born! He was very sad.  But as you will find out, if you dare to live and to fully enjoy life, there will be times when accidents do happen, and you just have to adjust and move on.  Your dad is doing that now. And if we are open to grace, we realize that challenges test us in ways that put a new perspective on life. And those perspectives are helpful – and they seem to stick with us more if lived instead of taught.

Your dad is super excited to have a daughter.  And James is excited to have a little sister!  He has been so sweet to you. He may not always be so.  That is ok. You and your brother will not always get along.  You most likely will have very different personalities. And that is ok.  Your dad is very different from his two brothers. And they did not always agree on things.  However, remember this. Even though you may not always agree, always love your brother.  And if possible, try to like him. One of the things that your Grandma Gizzy and I are most proud of is that your dad and his brothers not only love each other, they also like each other and are best friends.  My hope is that you and James turn out the same way.

Your full name is Elizabeth Jean O’Malley Franklin – some Irish in that name! So, from your mother’s side of the family, you have lots of Irish blood. But you are also very Scottish. For that, you can thank your dad’s family. And I am sure he will tell you all about that, especially from Gizzy’s side of the family. Come to find out, you also have Scottish blood from my side. According to ancestry.com my updated ancestry is: Norway – 3%, Wales – 8%, Ireland – 11%, Scotland – 38%, and England and Northwestern Europe – 40%. It may be possible that I have more Scottish blood than your grandma Gizzy!

Your first name comes from your grandmother Gizzy and your second name from your great aunt Jean, who passed away not long before you were born. I will let your mother tell you more about your great aunt Jean, who was an amazing person.  But I do want to tell you a little about your grandmother Elizabeth.

I met your grandmother when she was a freshman in high school, and I was a junior.  Right away I knew she was different from anyone else I had ever met. She is so generous and so present with people. And she is one of the most unselfish people I know. And all of that inner beauty and goodness was matched by her beauty on the outside. She looked like a princess and even had the presence of one – not with haughtiness, but with style and grace. But even though she possesses gentleness and poise, make no mistake, she is also a princess warrior.  She is strong and independent and will always stand up to bullies and those who try to oppress others.  She is as comfortable with the Queen of England as a street beggar. And she treats each with the same dignity that every human being deserves.  And finally, she is a hard worker.  There is nothing that she will ask anyone else to do that she is not willing to do herself.  In summary, your grandmother over the past 44 years has taught me to be a better person. Elizabeth, you are so lucky to be named after such a wonderful and beautiful person. It is a wonderful legacy to inherit.

Now, what will your parents call you?  Well, they have decided to call you Liza Jean. And I really like that name. However, I may end up calling you something else.  I have not decided yet.  It may be little Elizabeth, little Lizzy, or maybe even EJ for Elizabeth Jean or LJ – for Liza Jean.  I may end up calling James JC for James Crawford.  So, you, your brother and I may have our own code names for each other.  JC, EJ and PJ.  We shall see – so much to look forward to along the way. 

I cannot wait to hold you. I think it will be before Christmas, which means you will be two months old before I see you!  Having no daughters, we really wanted a granddaughter someday. You have made that a reality. Thank you, Elizabeth Jean O’Malley Franklin, for showing up and filling our hearts with joy.

I love you EJ

Papa J (PJ)