Today is Olivia’s birthday. Compassionate, a gifted artist, an entrepreneur, a loving wife and mother, a faithful daughter to her ailing mom. She encompasses all that is admirable and wonderful about being a woman. Andy and Olivia met in an underground bank parking lot in Minneapolis. Andy had a car detail business in the parking lot, and Olivia was the parking lot attendant. Their relationship grew into something incredibly special. I find it remarkable how people of diverse backgrounds, cultural and family, find in one another that special connection that links them together forever.
Here is a poem I gave Olivia on my birthday in 2015.
The Gift Of Olivia
Welcoming, oh, how the love
of two people welcome
into their lives the love of a
child. Daughters and Sons,
some born into this love,
and others adopted. Ah,
but you are more special,
you became my daughter,
the avenue of your entrance
into the heart of my family
through the love of my son,
nuptials blessed, his dream
fulfilled, and I? I am gifted with
another daughter to love.
Extraordinary from the start,
passing into the hearts first
of my parents, double dating
no less, long football Sundays
trapped on the leather couch,
running the familial gauntlet
of Andy’s maternal relatives,
all with such ease and grace.
Long an artist before formally
acknowledged, your gift of
composition, light and color
captures images long lasting.
The gift of your self equally
capturing my heart, a heart
that welcomes you and
cherishes you, my daughter,
as mine own.
(c) 2015, Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
In 2016, on my birthday, I gifted my family with a piano song written specifically for them. Here is the song I gave to Olivia.
Olivia is of Filipino ancestry, why does the song sound Irish? When Ruth and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, we and all our kids traveled to Ireland. Andy and Olivia were engaged, and she is part of our family. Olivia is among some of the most fondest memories of that memorable time in the life of Ruth and I.
What more can I say to honor her on this special day?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR DAUGHTER, OLIVIA!!! HOPE THIS DAY IS VERY SPECIAL FOR YOU!
