i still don’t totally get what a naming is but you go in with one name and leave with two. so now madison merill gelwix is also known as nadiva. i think this could come in handy. should she be asked her name by a man at bar (or a boy in the sandbox) that she doesn’t care to see again anytime soon she can truthfully proclaim, “my name is nadiva” and then give him someone else’s phone number.
it could also prove useful when putting together her stage act with the 7 other children melissa and joey are planing to produce. (i might or might not have added 5 to the number of children they actually want. i’m not sure…) she will be the oldest and the leader of the group of 8 jigging juggling gelwix girls (yes! all 7 will be girls. what are the odds??). even if upon meeting her you did not know she is the leader, when you hear she goes by ‘nadiva’ you will have no doubt. plus, her head piece will bear the most feathers, so even from afar you’ll know she demands your attention.
however, even nadivas have to start somewhere. this one began in a synagogue surrounded by her family and very close family friends. she was carried down the aisle by her uncle michael with aunt stacy on her right, and myself on her left. she hung out on the alter (are they still called alters in synagogue?) with her family and the rabbi as she was officially proclaimed to be good and sweet and loved. then we clapped and we sang (or they sang… it was in hebrew, but i’m pretty sure they kept saying something about “cinnamon toast” – which is also good and sweet and loved, so it made sense).
afterward we celebrated with a big, wonderful, fancy (but not too fancy) meal at mise en place. it was delicious i tell you. but silly maddie didn’t eat a bite! and it was her party! ugh!
she’s on some kind of all dairy, all liquid, all natural, master cleanse.
such a nadiva!
……
aunt stacy, uncle michael, and me with madison
the ceremony
maddie loving it
more ceremony
maddie with her dad and great-grandmother
singing and clapping
the family
all done! and great-grandma is so proud
michael and ben
ben and bob
scion and stacy
…on to the dinner…
the girl of honor in her partay dress
the menu
blessings
aunt stacy and madison
my mom holding madison
madison with her grandparents (michael’s parents)
aunt stacy and madison
cousin matt in town from atlanta
michael and my dad
lastly, michael and me
