bubbala

Great-nephew, Logan, at 14 weeks.

Smiling at grandma (my sister, Tree)...

and holding her hand.....

and playnig with Mommy (my niece, Melissa)...

(click on photos to view larger images)

Tree, Melissa, and Logan

For much of my young life I idolized my sister. Being 6 years older, she was my greatest influence, and always the best of sisters, taking me places and interacting with me at all ages. As I became older, of course, we became peers, but there is always that big-sister/little-sister part of us that is soul deep. And we wear it well together, but don't wear it out. Most times when we are together we don't even need to talk, although we talk a lot... We also say the same thing at the same time over and over again, and it just cracks us up the way we are so in synch.

When my sister had her daughter (and only child; my Godchild), Melissa, I fell in love. I never had any children of my own, and this child had come from from someone I regarded so highly, and loved so dearly. Melissa taught me the truest emotion of joy and unconditional love. Through all her years we have grown together as Aunt and Niece, and as friend to friend. I'd like to think that I've had a positive impact on her life, and that I can continue to do so... I know that she has had that kind of impact on mine.

At 36 years of age now, and me, nearing 56, we are as tight as friends can be, and in my eyes, when I see her, I see decades of Melissa at one time.... from infancy to womanhood, and it fills me with a multi-layered melody of love that is hard to describe.

And now Melissa has had her baby, Logan. When I look into his face I can only feel love, like it's bubbling up within my chest, and I might bust at any minute. There is a smile within me that fills my whole body when I hold him. He comes from one I love so dearly, who comes from another I love so dearly. And dearly do I love him, too.