My niece: Fred. Er.... Amy.

Dave and Amy, a couple years ago, in Toronto to see
*choke* David Cassidy and *swoon* Michael Burgess
in the FABULOUS "Blood Brothers"

When she was born, she was.... ok let's face it.
She was E.T.
All wrapped up in a pink bundle, one eye open like
Popeye, straining her little neck, I swear, just like
that loveable alien we all know.

She really was the first baby that I knew.
I'd babysat, alot. But this... alien, was
my first and so far only niece.

I had a title! I was an aunt!
And BOY was I gonna use it.
*evil laughter building to a peak and subsiding*

Watching her grow, and being a part of her
life is in a word... incredible. And I could not
WAIT to get my time with her. I believe it was when
she turned 3, I stole her from her mother as much
as was humanly allowable. Bringing her to my
house, playing and laughing with her. Building
a bond between us that I hope will never weaken.

I dressed her up, I took her out, she was such a joy.
I had clowns come to her birthday party, I taught her
how to make a glass stick to your face, how to balance
a spoon on your nose, the significance of the gibberish
words "Nerk" and "Fern", all the very important things in life.

I took her through her very first car wash.
As the bristles of the brushes swooshed over
the car, she looked at me fearfully for the noise was
loud and it was almost a little clausterphobic.
I grinned at her and told her this is the best part,
the two of us opened our mouths and screamed.
The stress left her adorable little face and the rest
of the ride was a blast. Several times since she
wanted to go wash the car so she could scream
that loud again.

There are so many memories associated with her
that it would take volumes to list. Watching her
grow up and taking part in the various functions of
her life is something I'll never forget. Birthday parties,
parades, evenings sitting around watching television,
going to the theatre, until she reached the age where
boys were no longer replusive reptiles.

The walls of her room, plastered in posters, reminding
me of many years ago, when I did the same thing.
Boys look alot different now than they did when I was
her age. Was I EVER her age???

I won't divulge the privacy of the inner sanctum of
this teenage girl's boudoir, or the faces peering at
me from the walls. Suffice it to say, she has good taste
in good looking boys. She even allowed me access to
add my .02 cents to her diary one night while having a
sleepover with her.

She has a terrific set of friends, many of which I've
had the pleasure of meeting and becoming a surrogate
"Aunt Dave" to. (*waving a special hello to Sheila*)

I would be hard pressed to name any other little
girl, now growing into a very pretty young woman,
that has not only affected my life, but made it
better just for being a part of it.

Secrets shared, advice given and taken, clarinet spit,
Great Nintendo Goddess plaques, milk squirting out
of noses and generous rounds of teasing Gorbechauv
(Gorbie, Amy's little brother... damned if I remember his
real name *wink* Michael*).

Hmmmmmm speaking of Gorbie,
Ahhhhhh but that's another story.........

Take me home! Main Dave's Chronicles