Sunday, April 27, was a very special day for our granddaughter, Alexis Fulsom. It was the day of her First Holy Communion at St. Agnes Church in Waterloo. The excitement and the emotion moved me to write this poem to mark the moment:
LADY ALEXIS’ SPECIAL DAY
Twas the Wednesday before – the first communion retreat
Nana volunteered to man the kitchen
So the students could make bread.
Four groups trooped through the kitchen
To toil over creation of their own buns
Rolling the flour – Decorating with raisins – what fun!
Splashing around the flour
Guaranteeing a considerable cleanup job.
At lunch a whistle is sounded – a decree is made
The quietest tables eat pizza first.
Nana settles at table with Lexi – not a sound is heard
Till Nana asks a question…
Shhhhhhh! Or we don’t get our pizza!
Rehearsal in the church ended the day
All the children are prepped for Sunday!
Saturday is busy with manis, pedis, and shopping
Mommy and Lexi sure all preps are done
Lexi got her birthstone ring
Giving her heart a song to sing!
The big day arrives – all bright and sunny
What a day it was – two new saints canonized
And a class of grade twos to be first communicants.
Entering the church proffered a certain euphoria
Pink and blue hydrangeas, angelic little girls
Like princesses in finery all bustling about
Their hair in braids – done up nice and shiny
Like little angels all ready to party.
Little boys in fancy shirts, ties, and suits
Sitting with hands folded in prayer
An event so awesome was also a scare.
Voices of cherubs proclaimed the readings
Including Alexis – they were like seedlings
Ready to grow into flowers with God’s love.
The moment arrived to receive Jesus into their hearts
Alas, Lexi was unhappy by the wafer’s flavour
Quietly upset – this will take time.
John and I are hosts and left early
To ensure the house is ready.
At the back of the church I was drawn to look
To a lone figure on a bench to the right
There she sat, my grade one teacher – praying for us all!
I could not check the tears of joy at seeing her there for Lexi.
Posing for a picture – I looked down and remembered
Looking upward at this lady when I was small
And dealing with the newness of school – she was my “all”
She gave me a gold bag with precious things
For Lexi to dwell upon and remember.
At our house the celebrating continued
But without Aunt Aggie who gifted Lexi
The traditional pearly rosary and prayer book.
Lexi was moved with family and friends able to come
Except my friend Judy – too unwell to attend
But her roses and gift made it a day to remember.
Some day Sister Anne, Judy, and I for coffee will meet
Revisiting memories we value and keep.
So a memorable occasion and a link from the past
Came together this day to make it a blast!
Fiora Books by John Fioravanti 