"I wonder who will come for me this time. Someone will come. Someone always comes. Who will it be?"
"I don't care if anyone comes for me, " said Edward.
"But that's dreadful," said the old doll. "There's no point in going on if you feel that way. No point at all. You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next."
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo
In her heart she always knew this....that someone will come for her. She was a firm believer, born an optimist. She was never worried. It was I who fretted for her. It was I who took a peek in the shop each day to see that she's ok, to see if anyone has come for her. It was I that worried for her, wondered if her spirits were worn down from the waiting. Yes, sure....there were always inquiries, interested persons....but, at the end of the day none ever came to fruition. But, SHE knew...in her heart she knew that there is one person meant for her and that for whom she was meant to be with. And she was right.
It is always sad when I have to say good-bye to a little one. But, it is particularly hard to say good-bye to the ones that have been around for a bit. For these are the ones that I get to know very well....their temperaments, their likes and dislikes, their idiosyncracies.....Emma, Tootles and Pinkerbell, Cosette.
This time, it is Liberty. For many reasons, Liberty is one of my personal favorites. (I know....those words ought never be spoken from the lips of a maker. Just like motherhood, there ought never to be favoritism. But, this isn't so much about favoritism as it is about relating differently.) Liberty is my first, and thus far my only jointed doll. And because she is jointed, she is a whole lot of fun to hold, coddle and dance with for she can bend every which way without the restrictions of a non-jointed doll. So carefree, you see? Liberty is also quite unique in that she's my only freckled creation and my how I love those freckles. Those are the freckles of youth and innocence. And best of all is her facial expression. I cannot quite describe what it is about her face that makes me feel so much love in my heart for her....perhaps it is the calm, yet knowing but vulnerable look found in the faces of my young children at times when things are not quite clear to them or at times when they are observing something new or something startling to them....it's the expressionless look of innocence. Or perhaps it is her eyes...the eyes that are so soulful, comforting, non-judging, unassuming and kind. I can't quite place my finger on it, but there is something in that face that brings forth so much love from my heart.
With that said, it is going to be a very hard good-bye for me. For her, she knows that she is going home, where she belongs....home, to a mama who was meant for her and for whom she was meant to be with. So, she is overjoyed, though she's not letting off at all that she is overjoyed. She doesn't want to hurt our feelings. She's a sensitive and considerate one, this doll. Nonetheless, today we spent the day with her as she comforted us and reassured us that our lives will continue on as usual. I told her that our lives will continue on, but perhaps not quite as usual.
