As you can see by my profile, I live in Charlotte, NC.  My immediate famiy (most of them) live just outside of Nashville, TN.  I knew that my parents were going to sell the house in Michigan (brrrrr) and move to Tennessee before I moved to Charlotte, which is kinda why I picked Charlotte.  I wanted to be close enough to drive over for weekend trips, but did not want to feel like I was "crowding" them in their retirement years.  As it turns out, it didn't matter because my 2 younger sisters, my brother-in-law and my niece all moved with them.  At first, it was OK.  However, as the years have passed, it has become increasingly harder to leave my niece, Naomi, behind when I have to return to Charlotte.  It is hard to leave my other family members, too, but Naomi has become my world.  I love her soooo much!!  Well, it has been a while since I was last able to visit and this past weekend we celebrated Naomi's 4th birthday!!  In her own words, her birthday party was "WONDERFUL!" 

Now, to the part of the blog that is the BEST MEDICINE in the world.....watching a 4-year-old at play!!  Also, joining in!!  They kind of live in the middle of nowhereville (the people in Nashville a half hour away don't even know where "Culleoka" is) and so she doesn't have anyone to play with.  This has created the most imaginitive child ever!!  I got to spend 4 days with this and I gotta tell you, I think that it added several years to my life.  I have become very inactive in the sedintary world of office work.  Staring at a computer screen for hours, hardly getting up to move around, then not wanting to really do anything once I get home and vegging out for the rest of the evening!!  However, when I am there, there is no rest!!  That little miracle keeps me hopping 24/7.  I helped rescue all kinds of friends (from her head) that were taken hostage by all kinds of mythical dragons and the queen of hearts (she's kinda mean, ya know).  She put on dress up clothes and put on plays.  She wanted me to play tag.  She wanted to play soccer.  She runs everywhere and she demands that you run with her!!  I have been thinking about using this training excercise that I got off the internet to try and train to run a 5K.  Who needs a training schedule when I am with Naomi!! 

The best medicine of all is the unconditional love that can only come from an innocent child! Watching the wonder in her eyes with every new discovery she makes in this world and the simple joy she gets from putting her shoes on the right foot or getting her shirt on by herself.  The joys that as busy adults, we don't stop to see joy in and kind of take for granted.  All the things that if you stop and listen carefully you can hear in the giggle of a child!!  I love it!! 

On the flip side, the worst medicine is when I have to leave!!  Her tears perpetuate mine!!  There are times where I cry for hours!!  This last trip, I actually called into work and told them that, even though I only took Monday off, I was going to take Tuesday off because I didn't want to drive back on Monday.  I can't wait until I find a job in Nashville and can live close enough that she can come see "Aunt Ha Ha" as I am affectionately referred to, any time she wants and hopefully a lot less tearful good-byes!!  What a blessing she is!!