Grown Up

When I was home--in my hometown-- this summer, I learned a few things. Among them, I learned that my niece is a grown up. She's 20, so of course, right? But I think being a grown up can hit any time between, say, 15 and 35. Of course some people never get there.  But she did--she's at the grown up stage, which is right before adulthood. ( I think being grown up and being an adult are subtly different. Being an adult has to do with discovering how little you know, despite all you have learned---something like that. I think I became an adult around the time X was born, though I don't see parenthood as a prerequisite--at all. And, it's probably more fun to be a grown up.)

Anyway, back to my niece after that parenthetic meander. She's on her own, despite her current residence in her mother's basement. She think of others as well as herself. Now, a boyfriend isn't essential to being grown up, but she has a boyfriend--who can hold a conversation with the family. She invites the boyfriend to family dinners so he is compelled to make that conversation.She takes charge.

My niece spends a lot of time with her Grandmother, my Mom. When we were there, she showed up most every day. She helps out in a lot of ways. She was always up for a trip to the grocery store or the local espresso stand. She plays piano, for her own enjoyment and Mom's. My Mom told me often (often!) that she was very proud of her connection with  my niece. She told me about how they formed this bond when my niece was a baby, toddler and preschooler---when my Mom was her main baby sitter. So....all the stuff I said about my sisters in the last post applies to my niece, too, in case you didn't notice.

My niece indulged me this summer, during our visit home. She is teaching herself to play the guitar, in addition to piano and voice, which she has studied. I asked her to learn and play a song for me. And she did! Which was a clear case of caring about others--especially considering what I asked her to play and the kind of music she usually likes. It was an emotional highlight of the summer for me. Guess what I asked for. I bet you can get it right.