Star of the Sea

Artwork by: Michael Schwartz

Alex is a starfish, mysterious and beautiful. He moves in other ways and dances across our hearts with his music. Our ocean is deeper because he is in it. He swims and helps us all to love each other more. His presence heals the heart of any unrest. His Hebrew name is Gal. It means ocean wave. How perfect. Josh is Baruch, blessing and Sam is Moshe, savior. We have an ocean wave of blessings as our savior. Starfish swims and love surrounds us with warmth.

                Starfish (Asteroidea)

“Particularly among the young, Starfish are the most popular creatures when you go tide pooling! They may well be the most unusual well-known creatures. They have no front or back and can move in any direction without turning. Rather than using muscles to move their hundreds of tiny legs, starfish use a complex hydraulic system to move around or cling to rocks. They can move quite gracefully across a surface.” Michael Michaud

                This is printed on a white card from the artist, in the silver box of the delicate starfish necklace my Mom sent me for my birthday strung on tiny sea pearls. Next to the gift from the sea is a real starfish. Alex it is like this starfish. “Is he walking yet?  Has he started crawling? Is he talking?”

                My answer to these well meaning inquiries is he is working on it and he is. He bounces with the strength of  the best Pilates instructor and glides across a floor like the star of the sea. He pulls his legs straight when practicing his stand. Graceful and passionate moving like no other, unusual and using  muscles in ways we  do not always see.

                “The way he tries inspires us all to try harder.” My friend Grace continues to remind me of the miracle Alex brings us. In the children’s’ book Star Of The Sea  by Janet Halfmann and Illustrated by Joan Paley, I learn that there are two thousand types of starfish just as there are many different children. Some of the thirty species can regrow body parts and rays. Proof of miracles! Alex will walk and he will crawl and he will talk.  He is already saying uh, uh, gi, uh for Mama get me up. He says Dada and Mama. “Ba”, for bye and “Eheh” for Josh and Sam.

                In an email exchange with the author of Star of the Sea,  I thank Janet for the beauty in her book. She is happy her writing inspires me to write.

                Alex scooches on the floor, pushing up to a crawl for a few seconds.  He moves unlike a lot of threenagers I know. Like a starfish unique but gorgeous. Starfish love the water and Alex does too. He comes alive with “splashies” any time he is in the pool or bath. Alex splashes the water giggling at the way it comes up towards him and anyone near him.

                “They move quite gracefully across a surface.” He does. His beauty and grace are powerful. Alex is working hard on his speech. He may not always convey in words how he is feeling but if there is unkindness. He curls up like a frightened starfish. We always know what he means Alex is a true threenager like all three year olds. As a starfish looks like a star, our star of the sea in our ocean wave of blessings as our savior.  Our starfish swims and swims and swims……Keep swimming………

                                           

Sincerely, 

As a Guest in the Stork's Nest~

Mama Nancy