In the Middle

As a child, my Aunt Jean was my absolute favorite person in the world. She spoiled us, she did all of those fun things our mom wouldn't let us do.....eat ice cream at Swenson's for breakfast, 10pm movies, play the music real loud, take us shopping for fun stuff....all that stuff aunts are supposed to do.

When I was a sophomore in high school, my aunt got pregnant with my cousin Molly. I was furious. She didn't need kids....she had us! and how were we going to do all of those fun things that we did with a baby in the way. Not surprisingly, Molly came along and stole everyone's hearts, along with mine. I spent many a weekend driving up to Blair to hang out with Molly and Jean.

As we got older, I always kind of felt stuck in the middle between Jean and Molly. Jean was 14 years older than me, Molly was 16 years younger. I have never really felt like a cousin or an aunt. When I lived with them while student teaching I never knew whether I should be fun or stern.

Time seemed to slip away from us....new husbands and babies took precedence over fostering relationships. But I will forever believe that it was the wisdom and vibrant personality of Molly that brought us all back to where we belong. As I look back over the past 8 years or so, I long for the times lost....but gatherings at Grandma's for Sunday dinner remind me that it is never to late to move forward.

It is absolutely unfathomable to me that Molly might be a senior, let alone looking for a school in Chicago. To me she is still this little girl who wears the brightest, most mismatched outfit in her closet, who loves the Sound of Music, and has soft strawberry blonde curls. And as for Jean....she is still, and always be, my favorite!