The Bell Family: The Luckiest

Okay, so I was just feeding Paloma on the couch listening to Pandora Internet Radio through our BlueRay player on the TV. We have a bunch of stations set up, but I was listening to the Joshua Radin Radio channel. (Do yourself a favor and set that station up - you won't be disappointed.)

Anyway, for those of you not famliar with Pandora, you create stations based off musical artists that you like. You type in their name, and then Pandora will play you similar artists to the one you chose. It's a great way to discover new music that you will most likely love.

So, I had just turned it on, and of course it played 4 great songs in a row; 2 I knew, 2 I didn't. Then Ben Folds came on. A song called The Luckiest. Paloma was done eating, we were working on her burp (I know, I know), and I instantly got filled with emotion. I knew the song. Very well, in fact.

When Solon and I were dating, I would leave notes on his car, just to let him know I was thinking about him. It progresses all the way through our engagement. As we were approaching our wedding (6 years ago), I wrote out the lyrics to this song because they reflected what I felt about him, and our future.

Here are the lyrics:
The Luckiest by Ben Folds

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

****

So here I am, a little over 6 years later, my eyes overflowing as I hear this song (which is on my iPod with 4,000 other songs, so I don't hear it often), and I am now reflecting on how far we have come together. Still in love, with 3 additions (Forrest 1st, then Quincy, and now Paloma), and we are "making it happen" as Solon likes to say.

I don't know why I got so overwhelmed. Maybe because when you have another baby, the first few months get to be a little like Groundhog Day, where we're just repeating the day over and over. You get a little defeated when you have an awesome (hilarious, smart, sweet, loving) pre-school/toddler, who just happens to be a problem-feeder, who on top of trying desperatley to try new foods, you are also now trying to potty-train him. You get tired. Quickly. But today was a good day. And Quincy ate pretty well, and willingly participated in "potty practice" & wore his big-boy pants for like, 2 hours. And then, I have Paloma in my lap, and at 5-months is a champion eater, loves flavor and can't get enough, and I am just overcome with joy and fulfillment at my beautiful family (with Forrest on the couch next to me).

And Pandora hasn't played a single bad song yet!!! Like a said, today is a good day. No, GREAT day.

And I am thankful. I am the "Luckiest".

Forrest