Noble, Graceful, Bitter Pearl

Twenty-six years ago today my second granddaughter was born - a Sunday child 'full of grace'. She is an Aries: 'honest, emotional and friendly' - also 'a good judge of character but once in awhile distracted by her naivety or by a lack of self confidence'.

She was the youngest daughter (six weeks old) at the Mother-Daughter Tea at our church that year. This 5-generation photo was taken that day - Alyssa being held by father, Doug, next to grandmother, Ramona. Great-grandmother Ruth, back right and Great-great grandmother Delphia, back left. This was just the first of many tea parties in her life.

There was the American Girl Doll tea where a very poised young lady displayed Allison, the American Girl wanna-be doll I had given her for Christmas.

And then there were all the impromptu play teas when she came to Grandma's house to visit. I wonder what she was thinking about in this picture.

Alyssa is the mother of my only great-granddaughter. Lily has the curls Aly didn't, but look at that same thoughtful expression. Oh, to know what's on this little one's mind!

This photo of Lily and Aly was taken a year and a half ago. I read Alyssa's birthday horoscope for those born on this day: "You should be a creative or inventive Aries. You have that eye for peculiar things and a bold quality to go with it. That could be a dangerous combination as you approach life but you remain humble and independent."

Oh, that post title, Noble, graceful, bitter pearl? The meaning of her name, Alyssa, is 'noble, graceful', which I think fits her. It's the meaning of her middle name, Mae, which surprised me: 'bitter'. But one other source said Mae spelled with an e can also mean 'pearl'.

Alyssa's April birthstone is the diamond. So I'll end with this quote: The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls." (Jean de la Bruyere)

Happy 26th Birthday, Miss Alyss.