One of my first memories of Beckett is me singing 'Ho gaya hai pyaar tumse' to her and she flashing the most beautiful smile in the world back at me.
That Beckett was a completely different person from the vivacious, gregarious Gemini who assertively, yet gently replies with a 'No, Thank You!' whenever I ask her if she wants to practice her scales.
6-year-old Beckett is a relentless negotiator who is always wanting 5 more minutes in the park, 5 more minutes of TV time, or 5 more points of whatever we are playing. 6-year-old Beckett is a voracious story listener (gradually becoming a voracious reader), budding storyteller, Showwoman, and incorrigible problem-solving mediator.
Her first song was 'I hope you dance' by Lee Ann Womack, gifted to her by The Status Message Aunt, and true to that song, she rarely if ever, misses a chance to dance the dance of life.
Finch, on the other hand, seems to have taken to music. I can sing anything to her, and as if on cue, the beatific angelic smile is staring back at me.
I've spent hours sitting next to her, both of us listening to Hindustani Classical Music. Sometimes she joins in and sings - whatever babble is the closest version of a 3-month-old child singing. Sometimes she just listens and stares in turn at the ceiling fan, the photos on the wall, and me.
Her first song is 'Runaway' by Aurora, gifted by yours truly, and I cannot wait to take her (& Beckett & Missus) back home.
