Dear Augustine,
I'm so glad that in the midst of what sounds like a crazy meeting, you were able to think of a really happy memory--your niece sounds like the sweetest little pea! I love that you sing to her. For some reason, I always get nervous...I love to sing, but not usually flying solo. Even if it's in front of a kid, it's like my throat gets stopped up somehow.
My precious niece, who is five now, I seriously can't even believe it...loves when I sleep over and asks if she can "snuggle" with me in the morning. Because I can never really sleep, and she wakes up super early, so our tradition is that I turn on cartoons and wrap her up in the blankets with me on the couch while I doze for the last hour or two before I actually have to get up. She doesn't trace her hands over my face, but she turns in kisses my forehead every now and then, whispering, "I just love you, Auntie Athena." I literally want to melt in a puddle from the preciousness.
People always talk about how children teach you unconditional love, and it's true. They're not even my own children, but I can't imagine ever not loving my niece and nephew. Ever ever. But the other thing is their own unconditional love for you. When they hear I'm coming over, I can hear them shouting excitedly through the phone, and they jump up and down when I walk through the front door. Nobody's ever been as excited to see me as they are--and it's nice to rest in that sometimes. And even nicer to get to love them right back.
+Athena
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