There are a lot of amazing and wonderful things about kids; Sydne, my youngest, will be 9 tomorrow, and I still remember sitting up with her, before she had turned 2, watching the late-night coverage of the 24 Hours of LeMans. Neither of us could sleep because the house at the time wasn't air-conditioned, and hot as an oven that June. It seems, as they say, as if it was only yesterday. Now she's almost 9, and for the last week has been with me, just having fun, and enjoying herself, without her older sister to compete with. She was going to "Cirqueamongus," a 1-week circus camp where she learned things like how to ride a unicycle, juggle and walk on a tightrope. And she had a ball, performing, picking her costume, (that in itself was a trial, she didn't like one she tried on because "it made my arms itch." Pure Syd.) and being the center of attention. So, a little Sydne; unmitigated, unshadowed, and all herself. What I know of her is this, even if I don't know everything, or haven't had the chance to; the creative energy running through her is an almost-unstoppable force, and she is as physical as the day is long. She knows math probably better than either I or her big sister ever will. And she has a heart of solid gold. Pride doesn't begin to spell it out sometimes.

And if it seems as though I bemoan never having been able to know my children the way I have wanted, well......you try bein' me. But even at that, it's all good, I've seen how much worse it could be.