Dear Charlotte,
The exhibition
sounds FABULOUS. We’ll all be coming!! Let us when the opening is. Here’s the
story we wrote for you.
M&J
Brie was the
easiest baby ever born. She never cried or fussed and she slept through the
night just about every night since she was born.
Before she was
three my husband and I started to notice that there was something behind the
softness that we loved so much. There were endless tests and consultations we
learned that Brie was born with a genetic abnormality that means she’s physically
healthy but cognitive limited.
We watched our
lovely happy little girl grow into a lovely young woman; she was incredibly
happy when she started in our school district’s special education program for
kids with special needs in high school but we started to worry when she told us
about the behavior of some of the boys in her class. We worried about the
decisions the boys might make, not Brie. She is easily influenced and so, so
innocent. But her posse of girlfriends helped her navigate the social aspects
of high school and she was very proud of herself at her graduation.
Don, my
husband, and I worried about two things after she graduated: Getting a job and dating
but there was no action on either front — just conscientious volunteering. Then
she met Jack and before we knew it she told us she was moving in with him.
Don and I were
both relieved … and surprised. We loved Jack; we had no concerns at all about Brie
being with him. The reason we found the decision odd was that Frank and I both were
sure Jack was gay.
Anyway, about
six months after they set up their new apartment Brie called and invited Don
and I for dinner and Charlotte, it was the best, most memorable night of my
life.
Brie had said
she had something special to tell us so I made her a “congratulations” sash. It
was a habit I’d started when she was little — making her sashes like the ones
beauty contestants wear in pageants. I’d make one for all her milestone
achievements to make her feel special and capable. She saved every one; she put
them up on her wall.
So I made a
“Congratulations” sash because I was sure that she was going to tell us that
either she and Jack were getting married or were, well maybe, pregnant. But I
was wrong; well half wrong.
It was to tell
us Brie had a job. But they also made a point of telling us formally that Jack
was gay. They told us because they loved us, they said, and they wanted their
truths known to us. And then Brie, my wonderful daughter, told me what gay
meant and why a gay man was right for her.
I never would
have imagined that hearing my daughter tell me she was marrying a gay man, what
that meant and why she found him to be the ideal husband would be the proudest,
most wonderful moment of my life, but it was.
Brie’s job was
waiting tables at Bailey’s — a
really nice restaurant. So we celebrated that night with bubbly we’d brought.
Then, when it was time to eat, Brie and Jack excused themselves to set the
table and get the food.
When we were
called to eat, Don and I sat down and Jack was putting the last of the things
on the table when Brie came in wearing this gorgeous little dress that she told
us she was going to wear at work. It was just the most beautiful thing I’d ever
seen, Charlotte. I loved it and I was so proud of how good she’d look in that
posh restaurant — and I told her so. (I’ve enclosed a photo.)
Then she told
me Jack had made it. I just didn’t know what to say so I got up, hugged Jack
and put the Congratulations sash on him. Oh, and I said, “I love you son.” He
truly felt like a son, that wonderful boy, and he has ever since.
It was an
elegant and simple black dress with lots of body in the skirt and Jack had
appliqued lace onto it for decoration. And get this — it was lace from the
edging of old table clothes from Bailey’s.
And when her bosses saw it, they used her and the dress in some of their ads —
my daughter the model, Charlotte!
Brie is a happy
confident and loved woman. Don and I never worry about her and I can’t express
what a gift that sense of relief is for us all.
Sincerely,
Don and Marion
Baker
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