Ms. Bean is 6!

Wow! What a difference a year makes! 365 days ago, Ms. Bean seemed so grown up! She was finishing pre-school, preparing for Kindergarten, and trying to figure out where she fit into this big puzzle called "life". Today - I honestly believe that she has already identified her path.

In one year, she has become a highly confident, expressive, lovely young lady. She is also slowly moving away from her nuclear core, and preferring the company of the neighborhood children and her friends from school. Just last summer she slowly moved off the bottom step if the OTV pool and after assuring that we were close by, began to splash and play. This year, she is frequently found in the deep end with her friends, lounging on a ring/noodle, and appearing not to notice if we are even poolside. While I get little pains of sadness at times, I am thrilled that she is growing in such a positive direction. It is also a hoot to watch her contagious laugh and smile from a distance, and witness the joy she brings to others. Perhaps it is time for me to recognize that, well, "she's just not that into me"?

She remains an artistic sole, and still has music in her head. On the way to breakfast, she explained that her favorite song at the moment is "Margarettaville", because, it has both "the flute and the maracas". And here, I thought it a simple tale about lost salt?

Most importantly, Ms. Bean continues to be kind and wise beyond her years. She reminds us regularly to do on to others. She is inspiring and delightful. I am privileged to know her.