Seeing Is Believing

I'm on the couch using Dan's laptop. He has these photos on his home screen.

Dan's brother John once gave us the generous Christmas gift of a chartered sunset sailboat ride to take in summer in Camden, Maine.
I always adored my Figgy--and we made sure she
had a lifesaving device to stay afloat if dark waters
ever closed in.

Look at her incredible artwork.

This is Figgy's Sweet Sixteen in Montclair. We hired a pink stretch limo and a driver
for the night. The car took Fig and a handful of her dear friends into NYC to Dylan's Candy Bar and then
to Sephora in Times Square. The limo was lit up inside--cool track lighting, music and cold sodas.
Dan and I stayed home; they were gone a few hours.
I didn't notice until years later that Figgy looked unwell in this photo.
She was battling her inner illness. All I knew was that I was
her mother and she was my daughter and I loved her fiercely and
unconditionally. I would show up as her lifesaving device when dark waters closed in.
So did Dan, so did Auntie, so did Moey, and so did her girlfriends.
But most of all, Figgy showed up for herself. I am forever grateful.

Maine again.