Apples in my Eyes

These perfectly adorable young ladies are my granddaughters, Madeline on the left and Meghan on the right. Madeline is 2 1/2, and Meghan is about to turn 6 in July. This picture perfectly captures their personalities! They are cousins, and as close as anyone can get - they call each other "My Friend". I call this picture the Amish girl and the Pole Dancer, because that best describes their personalities and their dress. Meghan is the quieter, more introspective child, modest in both her manner and dress. Madeline is is a ball of fire and outgoing rambuctioness, and prefers wild loud colors - she holds nothing back. Meghan is slow to let go of shyness around people but when she does she is devoted, in a quiet, sturdy way. A hug from Meghan is a very special thing. Madeline is a perfect mirror of both her mother, (my daughter) and I. My daughters birthday is September 11, and on the day of those terrible attacks she decided she would have her birthday legally changed so as to be able to enjoy her birthdays for the rest of her life. When the attacks happened she was already nearly 30, a war veteran but not yet a mother. When she became pregnant with Madeline, a brand new doctor who did not know her estimated the delivery date at Sept. 11 - and took her breath away. She decided immediately that the child would be born instead on Sept 14, which is mine and her fathers birthdays, both. Darned if it didn't turn out exacly that way! Naturally! So the wild child is born on my birthday, has my middle name as her own, and shortly after her birth spent an inordinate amount of time, at least 15 minutes, staring into my eyes, and she looked for all the world as if she was completely focused and knowing. She was totally limp and relaxed, and did not lose focus from my face for even a second. I was shattered, and cried for quite a while - she looked so wise and as if she had known me for millenium and was just renewing our aquaintenence. These two small girls are the light of my life, and I delight in their company - I can't wait to see what's ahead for us all!