Niecelet  – Family We Choose, who I first met when she was a friend of Veruca’s. Her mom became a friend of mine through softball (when our girls played together) and we have remained friends ever since. It was during Niecelet’s junior year that I volunteered to drive her when her mom was recovering from surgery and our relationship grew from there. She is fiery of spirit and a fellow rider of the Hot Mess Express. She “has a very quick temper and a very loud voice” (borrowing from a 1970s report card describing ME) when things get stressful, like with her truck/car or in life in general. She is tiny with an impish smile and she finds me funny and useful with advice and she loves me – how can I not love her? She worked with Todd one summer and learned to appreciate his quirks and find humor at the shit that drives him crazy. She has filled in the cracks that I have missed from my own kids over the past four years. I know more about her personal life and health issues than a nurse practitioner and I proudly endorse the man in her life. I call her one of my bonus kids and I cannot overstate how important her presence has been in my life through all the challenges and loss. A very special shout-out to my friend, her mom, for sharing her with me.

Aunt Dianna – Family We Choose.  I met Dianna when I was 19, when she began working for my mom at the restaurant. A fellow Gemini with an unapologetic and wicked sense of humor and I immediately loved her. Everyone else did too. She was 21 years my senior and was not above reading me the riot act on one occasion when I disappeared to mom’s house (attached) for a (apparently way too long) break. She is warm and loving, gives great hugs, but will take no shit from anyone and is not above calling you a happy hemorrhoid for being a pain in the ass. That laugh! If you haven’t heard that contagious laugh you have truly missed the siren’s song. Master’s in Pysch and so this alone makes her a Very Dangerous Individual. Nothing gets past her. I have only to meet her eyes and have a thousand thoughts pass between us before one of us erupts with laughter. There was a long period of time she was absent from our lives which, if I’m honest, might have influenced what I chose to endure, but she is back with a happy vengeance and I am so very grateful for her.