They Grow Up Fast

Easter 1996. It seems like only yesterday...that these kids were playing in the trains at Travel Town and in a fountain on Glenoaks Boulevard. These are my nephews and my niece.

Michael, the one on the left has a family of his own now. Among his many other talents, he makes chain mail jewelry. Ana will be 17 years old next month and is a wonderful artist. Jeremy plays video games for a living and is my computer guru when things go kaput!. What interesting paths their lives have taken over the past 15 years.

My sister had all the kids (and pets). I had all the art supplies and cool stuff to play with (and the quiet refuge when kids and pets were too much). I always stayed close to my sister's kids in case they needed a safe place to go if things got too unpleasant at home (parents and teenagers often go through trying times - if you're a parent, or a teen, you know this). I always let them know my door was open to them and that I would take them in but I would also tell my sister where they were. None of them ever took me up on the offer. Guess their lives at home were more bearable than some.

Not having any kids of my own I have to admit I'm not the most "kid friendly" person, but I must have done something right by all of them as they were growing up because they still tell me "I love you Auntie" when we talk (and so do Michael's kids - my great nieces and nephew).