What do you do with a kangaroo?

I just got the best children's book ever for my niece: What do you do with a kangaroo? by Mercer Mayer.
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. The story features a tough heroine who battles her way through an array of demanding animals who invade her space and bother her as she just tries to go about her daily business. It is fantastic. Can't wait to send it to M&J so they can start reading it to her.

I am surprised with how excited I am for my niece to be born. I can't even imagine how her parents are feeling!

St. Patrick's Day

My dad and I are taking Irish classes. He is the biggest brown-nose around. He will ask questions that showcase what he knows in order to elicit the response "An-mhaith", very good. This is all kind of cute until it involves me. He signed us up to volunteer at the organizations table at a St. Patrick's Day celebration at Landmark Center in Saint Paul. I am full of the volunteer spirit, however I know where my strengths are. When the volunteer coordinator came to our class with the sign-up sheet, Dad jumped at the opportunity to be the first one on the list. Which meant I was second.

Since I don't see very well, I guess I assume that a duty that asks you to make eye contact with people passing by might not be my thing. I don't do well in big groups where people are coming and going and asking questions about something I have studied for only six weeks while Irish music is blaring in the background while little girls with creepy curly wigs dance around.

Not my thing. I survived our shift and everyone was very nice to me, but I felt like such a dork. I avoid putting myself in those types of situations because I hate feeling this way. Of course if I didn't do things I was uncomfortable with, I would rarely leave the house. I have been legally blind for nine years and by now I am able to weigh the pros and cons of any given situation and decide if it is a good way to spend my time. I have been surprised, but ususally I am right.

We don't even get graded.

Aunt

There will be a baby in our family for the first time in twenty-nine years when my niece is born in June. I am very excited. I think I am well-suited to the role of aunt. My brother and sister-in-law also asked me to be a godmother (no godfather, just my sister and I fulfilling the duties of godparents). I am relieved there will be someone to carry on the family legacy.

My entire family is eager to meet the new arrival My dad was born to be a grandfather - he has the corny sayings and jokes down. I am pleased that my niece will have a grandpa. I never did and I always longed for a grandpa to bring me fishing or bring me to the track or bring me somewhere.

Can't wait.

Press "9" to resave

My grandma called me once and left me a voice mail message:

"Annie, this is your grandma".

Grandma rarely called anyone and most certainly never left a message. I guess that was why I saved it. I have no idea why she called or when the message was left. For a split second every ninety days when the kind voice mail lady asks me if I want to erase this message or save it, I consider getting rid of it. She has been dead almost three years.

I am not ready to let go. I will be at some point, but not yet.. When I hear her words, a warm wave a love flows over me and I smile.

Today I was told by the voice mail lady that the message had been saved for the maximum time allowed and I opted to resave. We will see what I do in ninety days...