Baby Kessler

Lopez, Pennsylvania

In June, we converged to the little-known town in the mountains of Lopez, Pennsylvania near the corner of Maple and Maple to meet my nephew who arrived just over three weeks before. Just like the harsh winters of Lopez leave the buildings with a perfectly weathered patina, my sister Leni’s labor could compare. Harsh. Long. Tough. In the end was this perfect baby boy for us all to love. We drove from Virginia and from Michigan and slept in tents and on couches to make room for all the extra overnight guests. Bonfires and porch swings seemed to have more meaning with a swaddled newborn passed from cousins, to dad, to grandparents, uncles, aunts and back to mom again. Even with 720 miles between our doorsteps, may our shared stories, photographs and visits forever keep us close.