Although I haven't packed a bag for the hospital yet or gotten all the necessary arrangements together for who will take Eli in this case and that case, I have spent over an hour on the internets thinking about little unborn Henry's birth sign. It's likely that the boy will be a Gemini. That pleases me. Just as Eli's Aquarius-ness did about this time in my pregnancy with him.
It's less about the astrology of it all and more about the people who I know that have that sign. I just assume that Henry will have some of the great characteristics of the people I know that fall under the sign. Everything that I love about them suddenly becomes the essence of Gemini to me. I simply add up all that tasty goodness and create our Henry. This kind of reflection is a productive use of time. I recommend it.
According to my formula, Henry will be a composite character of the following six people. And if he's to be born on the exact birth date of any of these folks he'll obviously take on more of the characteristics of that person than the others. Hey. This is my game. I make up the rules.
May 25th: First there's Matt. In 1999, Yo and I met this Scot on a beach of all beaches in Thailand. He played his guitar in the sand with no shirt and nothing but a tropical island to accentuate his hunkiness. We paid good attention to Guitar Boy or some other equally creative code name. He and Yo romanced the month away and although he promised we'd never see him again, we did. These days he and Yo are married and rocking out in San Antonio where he plays in a band. Dog Men Poets. The boy can sing and write and knock your socks off with straight up genuine Matt. Even if I can only understand every third word out of his mouth, I would want for Henry to have the cold water refreshment of his voice and his words that put it to good use.
May 30th: Abbie is so deceptively sane. Never, never have I met someone who wanted to pursue so many avenues in one lifetime. Rock Star. Masseuse. Psychologist. Tour Guide. Teacher. And she's done and pursued each one. Never have I met someone who moved more slowly and in the present tense yet got more done in a day than I can handle in a week. Never have I met someone unafraid of knocking on the door of the massage parlor that closed five minutes beforehand to ask for a massage because it had just barely closed which in her mind meant it was OPEN. And the kindness can't help but make you hope for better in yourself. And her house, aside from being decorated in precious cloth from every corner of this round earth, is immaculate. And her cat's name is Mr. Tibbs. For Henry, I'd like the unstoppable love for nouns. The girl can't sink her softest, gentlest teeth into enough people, places or things.
June 8th: Dear old Nana. There is no margin of doubt about what she deserves and what is right and wrong and how she should be treated and how a bed is made and what a good meal is. I imagine there is comfort in knowing so clearly how things should be or how things were. So for Henry I hope for that clarity about what he wants to give to the world. He doesn't need it in as many areas as she's got it. No one needs that much clarity but some of that conviction is useful.
June 17th: My old flame Steve was born and died on his birthday. The boom of his laugh and the span of his arms welcomed everyone. He saw nothing but possibilities in the world, in its people and in himself. May Henry have even an ounce of that smile and yes spirit.
June 20th: Heather is as devoted to her friends and family as she was to her mean-spirited cancer-ridden rabbit, Althea.If you're lucky enough to be on her list of people to love then you will be loved from hither and yon for as long as you both shall live. Incidentally, she is about to take those forever kind of vows and I won't be there because of the very baby inside me. It's the least he could do to be born on her birthday with her steel-toed loyalty. He is welcome to skip the parts where he would be tempted, like Heather, to run in a bikini on the devious beaches of San Salvador. The raspy voice though, he'll need that.
It's like we already know Henry now, isn't it?
fabulous game! I love it-- best part of all? Aquarians and Geminis are fabulous partners-- they get along great-- I know, cause I am an Aquarian-- so this bodes really well for your boys to be best of friends! Hugs to you--
Posted by: Elizabeth | May 26, 2006 at 08:53 PM
And me, me! Gemini here. I love being a dual-natured Gemini and am honored to be in the company of your loved ones mentioned here.
Posted by: Raehan | May 28, 2006 at 02:07 PM