She almost didn't come halfway through the gestation. A growth almost her size that resided in her mother's uterus crowded her space. The Doctors at Cedars Sinai would hover around the Intensive care bed while the beeps and whistles of machines and the hysterical cries of her mother filled the silence. Her amniotic fluid was diminishing. How could she survive? But she did through an act of God.
Nika Annabella came into our world on October 16, 1996. Her spikey hair and her wide open smile enchanted every one she gazed upon. From that moment, she touched us in immeasurable ways. Her mother, my baby sister, carried her alone, a treasured backpack during the course of her struggling years as an actress and dance instructor. She took up residence with my parents. The first two years of her life, Nika created a warm glow in the hearts of her grandparents and her grandmama. Nika became the center core of their daily illuminations. Her laughter, her antics, her beaming love became the glue for the senior members of our family; the soft place they would fall into.
As Nika grew, her personality flowered but never strayed from the core elements of compassion, sweetness, ( never disingenuous), smartness beyond her years, and a teasing humor that satisfies. She built her nest of strength around her family, her love of music ( piano and vocals ), her agility in dance, performance and theater at such a young age. Early on, gymnastics called to her. The advent of inner discipline came into her being. She devoted herself, solidly practicing as would an Olympic enthusiast, without parental urging, to reach a level of expertise. During this trial of honing the craft of sport agility, she engaged in the love of academics. A string of A's followed her many courses of advanced study. Science and math were not her only forte'. She balanced it all with the arts and languages. I remember one day around the family table she spoke Russian to me.
I think the finest hour ( and there are many ) was her drive to be the angel to those either less fortunate in mind, body or spirit, or to show a kinder way to those who tried to harm her with insults. I am talking about a child from age four or five when she consciously seemed aware of her imprint on society, to her present age of 13 years. In all my 62 years of life, in all my travels, I have not found one person who has measured up to her inner peace that exudes like a Tibetan monk, her consistent demonstration of love in all adverse moments, her sage philosophy compressed in her small child mind that chooses to see the better, the wiser, the more reasonable, the more logically sane approach to any situation. Does it boggle my mind? Oh yeah.
I am most honored to be this sweet person's godmother, who held her cuddly body over a baptismal font ( which I poured water from the River Jordan into )and prayed over her spiritual life which had already taken hold visibly.
Each day she pours her love into all of us, tightly wrapping her arms around us with a vastness of deep love perhaps none of us can know the depth of, and with that uncondtional love she helps us regrow a new heart.
This is the celestial child of the Universe who has yet to show us of what she is made of but the preface of this story has us all hooked. The Chapters of her life have yet to be realized. Nika will continue to perform, as a grand dame, an old soul, a messenger of God with angelic wings ( of which metaphorically says, rise up over your troubled life and see the brightness of tomorrow!)
It does not surprise that Nika has wanted to follow the path of healing since she was young enough to say the words." I want to be a Doctor, maybe a children's Doctor". The future is a promise land for this beautiful one. Happy 13th Birthday Nikster you have made our world so complete!
