To Greta, I Love You

When Cody and I moved to Charleston in the Summer of 2007, we had no friends, no money, no jobs and no luck.  I was as homesick as I've ever been, stuck in our tiny apartment studying for the Bar exam all day, with no comforts (besides Cody :)), or fun on the horizon.  We started going to daily mass at 7 a.m., because what else do you do with your day when you have no friends, no money and no jobs?  Amidst the Catholic-senior citizen population of Charleston we spotted a young trendy looking couple and one young, bald, yet trendy looking, man.  I was so forlorn with our new situation, I waited after mass and pounced.  I wanted friends, and quick. 

The future-Vercollones, the Reetzs and the Groebers shortly after moving to Charleston, fall 2007

Our very first friends in Charleston were Luke and Andrea and Paul and Gretchen.  Luke and Andrea weren't even engaged yet, and Paul and Gretchen were just married the year before, like us.  We were all transplants to Charleston, just trying to figure out what we were doing there.  

The two common threads we all had were: 1. we were Catholic, and 2. we had no friends in Charleston.  Quickly these folks became our family of friends in this new (and hot) place.  Only a few weeks after we met Paul and Gretchen I lost our first baby, in July, 2007.  I kept thinking, if only I were at home by my family, or back at Notre Dame with people who really knew us, this would be easier.  I was distraught and despairing.  On July 4 we went with Paul and Gretchen to the downtown fireworks display and Gretchen listened patiently as I told her how sad I was and how much I wanted our baby.  Even more patiently, Gretchen sat with me as I was silent for the next hour or so, just being sad.  Paul selflessly spent his birthday listening to Cody and just being a good distraction for him after all the stress of the last few days.

Exactly a year later, after we all enjoyed a few months of late nights playing charades and Bible Trivia (thanks to Paul), the baby-train began and Paul and Gretchen were among the first visitors to meet Baby Sean.  It was when I was 36 weeks with Sean Gretchen told me she was expecting Greta, and I jumped out of my seat so fast I started contracting right there!  It was as if my baby recognized his little friend inside Gretchen!

Fast forward nine month and when Gretchen's maternity leave was over Sean and Greta were babysat together every day.  The love story begins.  They took naps together, had their bottles together, cuddled together, and to Paul's chagrin, learned how to kiss eachother.

Sean and Greta would often wake up from their afternoon naps around the same time, just as Gretchen and I were getting home to greet them.  We would lament the fact that we had to work while there were warm, cuddly babies to hold at home.  We always took comfort in the thought that they were together during the day.   

After a few months, Gabe joined Sean and Greta during the day, and the three amigos spent all their time together.  I took comfort knowing that Gretchen, Amanda and I were all in the same situation-- we didn't want to work away from the babies, but at this point in our lives and marriages, we had to, and all of us were making sacrifices so our husbands could build their careers and talents-- being public defenders, struggling artists or pursuing a higher degree to realize their potential.  Coming home in the afternoon/evening to good friends experiencing the same sacrifices and struggles as you every day helps lighten your load.  Often on a Friday night picking up the babies turned into an impromptu or planned dinner for all the couples.  It was a great, organic community centered on the same values and beliefs (and cute babies).

Sean and Gabe sometimes came to fisticuffs over Greta.  Just kiding, Sean loves Gabe too, but Greta is pretty and wears pink bows in her hair, which makes her different, and, well, attractive.  When Sean was learning his colors a few months ago, everytime we came to pink he would say "Na-na," his word for "Greta."  This went on for months before he would actually say the word "pink."



Sean and Greta would often eat their meals like this--holding hands.



This summer when Jamesie was born Greta got some practice of having a new, little baby around in preparation for Baby Xavi. 

There are no words for the cuteness in this picture.  As our families grew, Paul and Gretchen and the Groebers and the Williams would often spend a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon at the beach.  Gretchen, Amanda and I also spent no insignificant amount of time at Babies R Us (sans grumpy husband) and planning each other's baby showers as our families grew. 

This fall when Baby Xavier was born Paul and Gretchen graciously asked us to be God-parents.  I was so happy and humbled that we could serve this role.  It gives me a lot of comfort to know that we are eternally bound to Paul and Gretchen and their family.  We are family now, no matter where we go.

Which leads me to the point of this long-winded post-- where we (they) are going.  Gretchen and I have always wanted the same thing-- to be there when our babies wake up from naps, to breastfeed the little ones without having to pump bottles at work, to teach the bigger ones colors and alphabets and prayers and manners.  We delighted in Gretchen's maternity leave after having Xavi--we got together a few times a week for the kids to play and eat and for us to chat and walk or just sit together.  Gretchen dreaded going back to work and leaving the babies again and I didn't want her to have to do it either, after enjoying the last two months so much.  



The little brothers snuggling together



Paul and Gretchen are incredibly faith-filled, trusting people, and they prayed and prayed the same prayers Cody and I had been praying as we were trying to figure out my work situation after James came.  Then, God answered their prayers with an amazing job for Paul, designing products for Target....in Minnesota.  The new job will allow Gretchen to stay home with the babies, but the home will be in Minnesota.  This is truly a great opportunity for them, but it leaves all the Groebers pretty sad. 

  So, Tuesday night was the last night for the Groebers and Reetzs to enjoy dinner, wine, and babies before we said goodbye for good (or until we can see them on a visit).  Sean and Greta both usually have 7:00 p.m bedtimes to keep them rested and sane.  Tuesday night we let them stay up until 9:00 pm, running wild through the house, tumbling over each other, hugging each other and kissing each other.  Finally, when Sean hit his final, final wall, we took him to bed, and Greta stood at the baby gate at the stairs saying "bye bye Seannie, bye bye Seannie."  We have a fantasy that the two of them will meet up at Notre Dame or Stubenville one day, and upon first sight warm feelings of security and childhood will be invoked.  They'll either fall (back) in love and get married, or sean will become the Pope and Greta a Carmelite nun and they'll carry on a legendary spiritual friendship.  I'll take either scenario.

In preparing Sean for his last goodbye to Greta, we made her a picture.  Sean told me what to write over a photograph of them at the beach together.  He was so proud to give it to her when she came over.  It says, "To Greta, I Love You."