My Favorite Shower Gift

As I opened up the first hard colorful page of Goodnight Moon, warm memories flooded over me. Taking me to a time when life revolved around one little red haired snuggle bunny. In my head, I said each word with cadence and flair and pause and silliness and rhyme. The faint smell of damp baby shampoo washed away the day’s minor annoyances. No money problems or paperwork or expectations, nothing mattered but me and my baby rocking in the worn, hand carved chair that didn’t match the other furniture, reading Goodnight Moon.

He struggled to turn the page, eagerly anticipating the green room with the orange floor, then the black and white bears…and two little kittens and a pair of mittens, he chimed in unison with his sleepy voice. I grabbed his finger and hand in hand we pointed to the toy house and the mouse. I toned down my voice until it was barely audible, “The quiet, old lady whispering hush” and he giggled. Together, we said, “Goodnight room – we continued telling everything goodnight.

I arrived at my favorite page, goodnight nobody and read that with special emphasis. Goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere. I always ended the story with one more good night moon for measure. I too, didn’t want it to be over so soon. I loved the book so much. It’s a staple with every baby shower gift, though I evade the shower if it’s at all possible.

Never considering myself a big poetry fan, the simple rhythm of this book combined love, safety and warmth all wrapped up in one soothing package. Each page building on the previous, familiar, yet different; anticipating, yet expected. Time to go night, night… Then I married a poet…