Close to the end of last year, my No. 1 son, Marko, let me know that his wife, Lucie, was pregnant again, this time with a girl. And he reported the due date once again: July 23. When he visited me for a few days four months ago, we talked about the little one on the way to this world over and over again. Most important, pregnancy was proceeding without any problem back then. And this is what I have learned again a few days ago. According to Marko, his wife has been in perfect shape for her second childbirth. One more time, the due date stuck to my mind (“Due Date,” June 2, 2022; and “Due Date, Again,” July 29, 2023). Every once in a while, Lucie’s face would appear in front of my eyes with surprising glare. July 23, July 23, July 23… It got a bit confusing when the magical date had passed, but I was always in touch with Marko. And?

At long last, the little one came to this world early this morning New York time. I learned about it early this afternoon Motovun time. Her name is Frances or Frankie Maia. And I was delighted that everything went smoothly one more time. I cannot wait to hug and kiss the little one on her parents’ next visit to Istria. She will be less than a year old by then, I guess way in advance. By then, her brother, Max, will be close to three years old.

Goodness gracious, only a few months short of eighty years, I have as many as three grandchildren already. It is anyone’s guess how many more there will be before I kick the bucket. Delighted as I am, I can only hope that the little ones will have the best of lives. Given all the givens, that is the best I can offer them at this time. Hope! The world is in turmoil, to be sure, and nothing else but hope remains for us all. In my dotage, I cannot but remember my own youth. It was the best of times anyone could imagine back then. The future was bright, and there was hardly anyone who would challenge the enthusiasm of the youngest generation around. In the wake of World War II, the earliest babyboomers around me were full of pep. And no kidding. The future was as bright as bright could possibly be and we were all eager to shape it to our taste as soon as possible. Nay, tomorrow!