She. Five.

Lily is Five.
Not sure how it happened but it did and she has stepped into the role boldly.
Three pieces of gum before 9am were reward for a remarkable two year campaign,
this girl knows that persistence pays off...

Her weekend was loaded with endless devotion,
An Annie themed party, new friends and old ones,
very extended family and Alan's dearest friends,
and their kids,
to bolster
the day
even
more.
It was a great day, to quote the now, very overplayed
Fresh Beat Band.

As always, I could still hear the gentle echo,
Alan's aunt's wavering whisper from when we cut the cake on her very first birthday -
just a few years back,

He should be here...

But our family rallied as they always do, and
Everyone
Helped,
Loved,
Celebrated.
Lily's betrothed wore his Yankees jersey in honor of his Uncle Alan,
and a beloved building worker and friend who knew Alan well,
showed up with a Yankees jersey for this big little girl.

Jeter.
White on blue.
The Real Deal.

Gave me a happy ache to see her put it on.

Sunday was rounded out
with a much needed trip to our bench -
piles of hardened snow at its feet,
we warmed it with
our adoring kisses. 
Then off to see The Lion King.
Not a far fetched combination, I discovered.

Such
A
Beautiful
Show

As it neared the end - to the swell of
He Lives In You,
it
all
made
sense.
Why we were there...
I think I needed it this weekend, more than she.
Its message, our very own mantra -
went straight to my heart...
And as I leaned over to softly note the connection in Lily's ear,
it felt good to know that she understood
its meaning
all
too
well.

(listen)