Mama-Come-Lately

Well, she always had a name, I just recently learned what it was.

I was pacing the walk in front of our house with the baby to calm his fussiness (he loves being outside). She was out walking with her husband and a younger man, who I assumed was her son. I was right.

His name is Constantine. Hers is Fayina, and she turns out to have been an elementary school teacher. Her son said this is why she has such fondness for babies, and certainly explains her sweet gentleness.

Fayina, by the way, means fairy, at least according to this website. This one says it means “free one,” and several other sites agree. Whatever the meaning, I’m glad to be able to think of her as more than Russian Granny #2.