Down Home Visit

Just back from an extended visit back to Texas. I heard on Wednesday of last week that my dear great-aunt Sudie was back in the hospital. She had back-to-back bouts of the flu and bronchitis, and it was just about more than her 93-year-old body could take. I flew down and sat with her, holding her hand. She was delighted to see me and kept repeating, "All the way from New York City!"

On Saturday, we had a family reunion in Waco. It was great to see everyone, and with my new hometown, I was one of the few who had travelled the farthest.

I delivered my New York City books to my nieces and nephews. I bought four stuffed animals (koala bears for the girls and polar bears for the boys) and took them around the city, taking their picture at many of the iconic sites. I wrote the story from the animal's point of view, and the stories were well received by not only the kids but by the adults, too!

Yesterday, as I was saying goodbye to my niece Anna, she started sobbing and held her arms tightly around my neck. At first she said she didn't want me to leave, and then she said "take me with you!" Neither of which was possible. It just broke my heart, because I hate to leave her, too.