when I was o about eight
my aunt decided
that
she wanted my brother and I
to
baptize her baby
cool
most relatives raised their brows
a little too young doncha think
me
I was born old
she knew it she believed
that was before you had to take classes
that was before there were so much politics
in the church
or at least that I knew about
or at least that bothered me
I just remember standing up there
trying to hold on to this not so little squirming
baby
as they applied the oil to all the right places
and poured the blessed water on his head
he
turns 31 today
amazing
not a squirming baby anymore
not even a squirming kid anymore
but
a grown man with a child’s heart
and
I never have known a better soul
ok
I have some problems with the church
we
don’t see eye to eye on some pretty big issues
but this one
this bond that is created
this “Godmother” thing
is a very good idea
it works for us
he is no doubt my pet
different to me from all other cousins
kinda like my boy
we do special things for each other
we somehow keep close
he even baptized one of mine
was present for the birth of that one
drove me to the hospital ran the camera
ok so there’s a lot of the floor
two or three times a year
we take the kids to the slopes
he keeps them geared in snowboards
and ugly rock music ha
close
I shot a couple of shooters last night with him
raised a glass or two in honor of his birth
amidst all kind of kin and friends
this man and I
clinking glasses
it wasn’t the booze that watered my eyes
this once squirming baby
now grown to handsome man
I could not be prouder
that
he
calls
me Nina