across the street

the neighbors really get into the holiday, don't they? kinda like the Griswolds of Halloween.

Hannah

Today i met my cousin Chuck's daughter's daughter. Heather has grown into a very special woman, caring and loving and filled with laughter. She's always smiling. So different from her father, who was guarded and wary, but yes, filled with love as well.

I remember meeting Heather again after I moved back to where the family lives. She was a little kid and wouldn't leave my side. I have this memory...of being in Aunt Laura and Uncle Carl's basement for a family get-together before Chuck died...of Heather sitting on my lap and looking into my eyes with a big grin on her beautiful face...of me wrapping my arms around her and never wanting to let her go. There's something very special about her that I find hard to describe.

And now she's a mom. At the hospital today, she was so grown up. Not a bit of nervousness or wariness at the prospect of being everything for this tiny baby and her life. Heather was completely in control. Scott, her fiancee, is totally in love. They will make great parents. I can't wait to see them learn and grow and be a family.

Chuck would have been so in love, and so proud. I can see him looking at what his daughter has done and being so in awe of Hannah. It makes me happy and it breaks my heart all at the same time.