My Last Hope

Katie called today.  It makes my whole day when my phone rings with her mom's number and on the other end I hear a high squeaky voice say "Hi Aunt Mary!" (her r's are better it used to be Mawee).  Some days the calls are to tell me her latest news, give me free 8 year old advice and sometimes it's just to see what I'm doing.  Not today.  Today she has made a decision for me. 

After a shopping trip to Charming Charlie with her mom, she's decided that I need to get married.  And soon it seems as her parting words were "make it snappy."

This is the only person in the world who was on my side when I said that I didn't need anybody in my life.  This is the girl who for years now has said that I cannot get married.  For a long time I wasn't even allowed to have a boyfriend.  She was my excuse when people would ask me why I wasn't married - "Oh I can't, Katie won't let me get married."

One pair of white sparkly shoes and some jewelery and her whole mind has been changed.  Now I must get married so that she can be flower girl.  She wants to wear white sparkly shoes, have diamonds and wear a beautiful dress (let's remember that it's supposed to be the bride's day but she doesn't see it that way).  

How funny to see her grow up and change her attitude about things.  How sad to see her grow up.  She's the closest thing I have to my own daughter.  She is a beautfiul, kind hearted, brilliant, animal loving child.  She doesn't have a mean bone in her body.  Everything with her is kittens, horses, rainbows and peace.  The one thing she never concerned herself with was boys.  I fear that it won't be long now before those phone calls begin to come in.  Probably from her own phone, not her mom's. 

And I'll listen.  And smile.  When she's 16, it will still make my day to hear her voice.  I can't wait for her to have all of the adventures that this life has in store for her. 

I'd go on, but my eyes are welling up thinking about her at 16.  For now I need to go get ready to go out because I have a date tonight.  Katie wants me to get married so she can be a flowergirl and I always give her what she wants (and she knows it!).