On March 9, I introduced readers to Makiah Young and contemplated giving myself an assignment - but was reluctant to, out of fear that I would not follow through. Makiah is the daughter of the daughter of my first cousin and lives only 25 miles from our house, yet 25 years had gone by since I had last any contact with her immediate family.
Then, cousin Mary Lynn informed me that she had come to Alaska from Idaho for the birth of her new granddaughter, Makiah. Margie and I then had dinner with them, I took a few photos, blogged the experience and then pondered a new assignment: to do some photos of Makiah every month from then on. In this way, I could ensure that I would stay in contact with my newly-rediscovered family members.
Yesterday, Makiah went to church in this white gown, hand-stitched by her great-grandmother Bonnie in Canada 76 years ago, just for her and there got blessed in it.
In addition to being sewn just for her, the special blessing gown was also sewn just for her father, Dan and older sister, Melissa, who also received their baby blessings in it - along with a host of aunts, uncles, grandfather and other relatives.
It can be presumed that many more family babies will be blessed in this gown in the future.
I did not attend the blessing, which took place at their local Mormon chapel early that morning, but did make it to the afternoon dinner held in Makiah's honor.
I felt it necessary to open this series with a photo that showed the gown in its entire length, but when one points his camera at a baby who looks so precious as does this one, one feels a desire to come in a little closer - even if that means cutting off part of the gown.
Oh, heck! I must come in closer still. Too precious! Too beautiful! I can't stay back.
And now look - her little hand grips a much larger thumb, attached to hand shaped and hewed by many decades of life, weather and work. Whose hand could it be?
Why, it's Don Young! No, not that Don Young. Don Young, her grandfather from Canada. Don was also blessed in this gown. It was he who brought it all the way to Alaska from Ontario, Canada, carefully pressed and packed into a hand-carry package adorned by a rose.
Grandfather Don Young caresses his little granddaughter as his son listens to a guest who came with an array of non-pause stories about canoe trips local and on the Yukon, precarious mountain drives with RV's left to hang over cliffs, caribou hunts and teepee-like tents slept in all the time at 40 below.
Makiah's mom was not blessed in the gown, but on her blessing day, a baby simply must be pictured in the arms of her loving mother.
As much as I want to, I remain reluctant to assign myself to a monthly photo of Makiah. I know that, no matter what, there will be some months when it won't happen, no matter what I assign myself to do.
But I am going to try for monthly when practical. When not practical, well, hopefully, the next month.
After I left and began the drive down the hill, I came upon this raven.
Then, after reaching Wasilla, I had a nightmare, which is fear is about to come true.