My teacher asked my favorite color. I said 'rainbow.' - Anonymous
In an ordinary world, you appeared like a double rainbow.
Through the years, you've come in colors everywhere, adding brightness to my gray skies.
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| Top left: Hot Springs, Arkansas: May 2022 | Top right: With Pink Flamingoes. Pittsburg Zoo: July 2022 Bottom: Easter, 2022 |
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when I behold you.
Far left: "Who dis?" | Left: "Who dat?"Alice on 70's sitcom "The Brady Bunch." Halloween, 2021
A promise of sunshine after rain.
Of calm after storms.
Whee! Ziplining in Hawaii. July 2022
Of joy after sadness.
Of peace after pain.
Right: Not Covid-safe at a wedding. "I blame the Chardonnay." Cincinnati: September 28, 2021
Rightmost: Showing off dance moves
Of love after loss.
Meeka celebrates a birthday. Columbus: September 26, 2020
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| Welcome Home! June 21, 2017 |
During those times when I'm afraid that I’d forgotten all the colors of the rainbow, I remind myself that I know just where I can find them again.
I quote these lines from Lord Byron in my wish for you, on this, your birthday:
Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.
The evening beam that smiles the clouds away,
and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.
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Read on for a bonus tribute, recently found from a fading dot-matrix printout.
Tribute to Iris Velasco
on her induction to the National Merit Society
May 1, 1991
Northwest Community Christian School
You are a special baby and will always be Guging, Reesie-Owie, Gugsie, and Sampaguita.
You have always been independent from the time you were just a little grape, deciding when you wanted to get out into the world and not giving us much of an advanced notice. Remember my story of how I wasn't really sure whether my delivery time had come?
Even when you were growing up, you pretty much knew what to wear or change into (which happened several times because you had wet your skirt or underwear). At 7-11 or was that at Circle K, once more, you demonstrated that your time was yours alone to decide - that was when you made that puddle in the store.
You have always been unique in your own way - with the word peach as your first word, rather than the traditional Mama or Papa of common babes. In your crib, you could only take a nap when you were set in the seater - what a sight you were -comparable only to the latest spectacle of you in our Campo Bello pool, as you had floated that one afternoon, with your multi-colored sunglasses, variegated patterned and colored swimsuit, and colored toenails sticking out.
The better parts of you include your concern for the environment, the poor, the hungry, and the needy. That is a good trait which most people are lacking in. From you, we are also learning in that aspect.
The best part that, at least I am in awe of, is your gift of music. As you religiously touch those piano keys, I could see your Pa's hunched position, as he produces the same wonderful music, which is perhaps his best legacy. When you perform, even if I dread to watch and would close my eyes, I would peek at times and literally gape in amazement at the agility of your little fingers. See, you did get something from practicing your cut, cut, cut activities with your scissors.
It goes without saying that comparable to your musical talent is your mind: which is not only intelligent but also logical and practical. It is your efficiency in thinking out all aspects of a task which is one of your best virtues.
And yet, even if you were not all of the above, I will still be writing this - perhaps saying something else, but it will still be written in love, for whatever you are.
Congratulations, little Iris! Keep up and count on us to be there to stand behind you.
If there is a reminder which we would like to leave with you, Iris, it is that what you have is but a gift. Qualities worth honoring, when coupled with humility and gratitude to the One source of all beauty, goodness, and truth, will work out always for the best.
Your sister, your Pa and I bless and honor you on this day. We are proud of you and love you, Iris!
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