The Sound of Glass Singing

Yesterday was my last class for the quarter.  It was a rough class.  Teacher asked us all to read our final papers aloud.  I cried while trying to read mine.  It's about a young woman with six kids who gets cancer.  So, I boo-hooed and was mortified and fulfilled my job as Debby Downer for the whole class.  Way to go out with a bang, no?

Except, in the last 5 minutes of the class my phone rang.  My big sister.  I told her I'd call her back as soon as I got out.

I rang back walking to my car, and guess who answered the phone?  My 5yo niece.

"Aunt Juliane?  For my birthday this year, will you send me a Tyrannosaurus pinata like the Stegosaurus pinata you sent me for my birthday last year?"

I love my sister for telling her it came from us.  I ask you, is it possible to say no to the dulcet tones of a 5yo?  And then later in the conversation...

"Aunt Juliane?  When we come to your house can we play in the leaves again?"

At the phrase "when we come to your house" my heart made the sound of glass vibrating under a wet finger.  Imagine, I thought to myself, if my house were around the corner from theirs.  And she could call and ask to come over and I would keep dinosaur pinatas all year long.

*sigh*