FROM THE

Wasn’t it just yesterday?

Where does the time go? It’s so cliché, but true.

My goddaughter graduated from D.C. Everest High School on May 25 and we attended her graduation party June 4. As I watched the slideshow depicting her proudest moments, I couldn’t help but get teary (I’m an undercover sap, just ask my husband). She has grown up into such a wonderful young lady and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was speeding through the Northwoods toward Ashland, with her mother (one of my best friends) in labor, dangerously close to giving birth in my car? Her water had broken while we were at her family’s cabin, an hour south of Ashland (the nearest hospital) and as I dodged deer and road construction cones on unfamiliar roads, my boyfriend at the time tried to keep her calm in the backseat.

It wasn’t long after we reached the hospital that beautiful Alison Grace made her debut. I was one of the first people to hold her, light as a feather wrapped tightly in her cozy blanket. I had zero experience with kids at that point in my life (I was 23), but I immediately bonded with her. When her mom asked me to be her godmother, I felt so honored. It has been one of my greatest joys, to watch her grow up and be part of her life.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that Ali was splashing in the tub, giggling and babbling as babies do? I was not much older than a kid myself and we kind of grew up together, she, her mom and I. She donned her fancy little dress and her whole family headed to the church, where she was baptized in a beautiful evening Mass. What a lucky girl to have two godmothers and two godfathers (her aunt, two uncles and me) who would love and protect her always.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that she greeted me at her door in a little Wonder Woman costume, so excited that I was there for a weekend visit? She excitedly showed me her dog stuves and we went downtown Mosinee for ice cream. She dressed up as a cowgirl and vowed one day to be a rodeo queen.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that I gasped as she skated fast as lightning in her first figure skating show, twirling, dipping and leaping in her glittery skating costume? Every time I have ever stepped foot on a skating rink it’s been a disaster, but not Ali. She looked like she was born to skate. How I loved going to her shows, not only for skating, but her mini pom performances, her softball games or her cross country meets. Even though she lived two hours away, we tried to attend her events when we could.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that she came to my daughter’s baptism, and held her “godsister” so proudly? Since Carolina was born, there has been a special bond between my goddaughter and my daughter, almost like they are truly related. They both love animals, softball, swimming and can giggle for hours over nothing, though nine years separates them.

Alison came to UWRF last Friday for her freshman orientation. She is going to attend college here and I’m thrilled. She is going to not only my alma mater, but the place where I became friends with her mother and uncle, where her grandma and grandpa attended too. She plans to study animal and equine science and one day own a farm with animals everywhere.

As we walked to Glen Park last Friday, I could scarcely believe the young woman next to me, who is now as tall as I am, used to be my tiny 5-pound sweetheart. She loves to hear the story about how she was almost born in my car and every time she’s in River Falls, we have to walk past the house where her mother and I were roommates. We even re-enacted me pushing her on the swing in Glen Park, which is a photo we take every time she’s here. We could almost make a flip book. I can’t wait to see what’s on the next page.

BY SARAH NIGBOR