Came So Far For Beauty

This is one of my favourite scenes from Grosse Pointe Blank, where the main character comes back to his hometown to attend a high school reunion. Apart from the beautiful marriage of Queen, David Bowie and the baby, it's also memorable for John Cusack's response to the question of how his life is going.

To paraphrase John Cusack's character, as we "progress" through life, every milestone gets bigger and bigger.  For instance, when we're in Year 12, at the time, it's the biggest thing we'll ever (or so we think) do in our lives.  We then get spat out of high school in all different directions, whether it's university, TAFE or full-time work.  Once that phase is over, it then becomes the biggest thing we'll ever have achieved.  For most of us, somewhere on this timeline will come settling down and starting a family.  For some of us, there's an equivalent point on that timeline where we start to wonder if it will ever happen for us, and perhaps even a resignation that it never will.

Earlier this week, after a long and painful process of starting a family, my very good friends' little daughter came into the world, and into a large, noisy and very loving extended family.  I got to meet Miss Emily this afternoon, and it's actually quite frightening to hold someone so small, but it's pretty awesome to feel the warmth of this little being, and her occasional yawns and stretches (no farts or poos this time!).  Last time I saw her she was still a grainy silhouette on an ultrasound.  Like every other baby being born, she's come a long way to be with us, and it's miraculous.  Especially so for her doting, albeit bleary-eyed parents for whom all of us friends are so thrilled and excited.