'I'm bold, bold as love"
John Mayer wrote this verse in a song on his Continuum album, which I own and sometimes disagree with even as he's singing. Oh well. That pretty much sums up both me and all of my opinions - even as I argue with them, I still enjoy what I consider crazy.
I love my niece, SDJ. We have a very special relationship that is both completely upfront and yet, somehow, symbolic in many ways that she won't understand for a really long time (I think). There is a special relationship between aunts and nieces, and I think SDJ summed it up the best when she attempted to tell me how she felt about me while visiting this summer: "You're not a mom - or not my mom anyway - but you're still an adult, so you know things and I can ask you and trust you." That last part I inferred since she sort of stopped at the "know things" but she's my niece, so I know what she meant.
I also understand this niece/aunt relationship on it's other side - I have an aunt, K, who I lived with when I first moved to Southern California (she also has a lovely husband, G). I would say that K's like a second mother to me, but I can't - because she's my aunt - a relationship that creates its own, incredibly special bond. K has supported me and encouraged me in all of my silly (and not so silly) dreams. She has made me a better person, a better Christian, a better mom, a better friend. Not a week goes by that I don't wish I were in K's house - at that giant wooden dining table - just talking about our lives and the lives of the people in our family.
So, it was incredibly touching that Buck received a GIANT box of the complete Thomas the Tank Engine set today for his 2nd birthday. If he hadn't been jumping up and down on it shrieking with excitement, I might have sat down and cried. There are moments that the reality of everything we left in California is really just too much.
I left an aunt there - as well as 2 brothers and their families, some amazing cousins, 5 really close friends and about 100 people with whom I have a hell of a good time.
This video records some of Buck's excitement about his gift. It's a bit long, but it also has a message to K & G. Love you.
PS - no fair trying to find out if you're one of the 5 friends. If you're reading this - I meant you.
I love my niece, SDJ. We have a very special relationship that is both completely upfront and yet, somehow, symbolic in many ways that she won't understand for a really long time (I think). There is a special relationship between aunts and nieces, and I think SDJ summed it up the best when she attempted to tell me how she felt about me while visiting this summer: "You're not a mom - or not my mom anyway - but you're still an adult, so you know things and I can ask you and trust you." That last part I inferred since she sort of stopped at the "know things" but she's my niece, so I know what she meant.
I also understand this niece/aunt relationship on it's other side - I have an aunt, K, who I lived with when I first moved to Southern California (she also has a lovely husband, G). I would say that K's like a second mother to me, but I can't - because she's my aunt - a relationship that creates its own, incredibly special bond. K has supported me and encouraged me in all of my silly (and not so silly) dreams. She has made me a better person, a better Christian, a better mom, a better friend. Not a week goes by that I don't wish I were in K's house - at that giant wooden dining table - just talking about our lives and the lives of the people in our family.
So, it was incredibly touching that Buck received a GIANT box of the complete Thomas the Tank Engine set today for his 2nd birthday. If he hadn't been jumping up and down on it shrieking with excitement, I might have sat down and cried. There are moments that the reality of everything we left in California is really just too much.
I left an aunt there - as well as 2 brothers and their families, some amazing cousins, 5 really close friends and about 100 people with whom I have a hell of a good time.
This video records some of Buck's excitement about his gift. It's a bit long, but it also has a message to K & G. Love you.
PS - no fair trying to find out if you're one of the 5 friends. If you're reading this - I meant you.
Labels: Video
posted by BGrady at 8:18 PM
2 Comments:
I love the addition of video. Daniel is adorable and so good with his words.
Thanx for the inspirational words about aunts. They touched me and reminded me how important that relationship is. People get caught up in the parent relationships, but "trusted" adults are sometimes hard to come by. I hope I can be even half the aunt to my nieces that you are to yours.
Love, E.
I was just talking to my aunt the other day about just this. I feel there are certain things I can say to her that I have trouble telling my mom (who is the greatest woman in the world, but still my mom). I miss my family, as I live so far away, and as I plan another move, I just know how much I will miss my friends who have acted like the moms and aunts of my life in Southern California. Just so you know, you (even as you are far away) are one of those people, and I miss you just as much as you miss us.
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