"Missing You" - John Waite, 1984

My brother's daughters Melissa and Jennifer each spent some time with us this summer. They are no longer as young as they were in this photo taken in 2002...and neither am I, for that matter. They are now 14 and 16.

John and I thoroughly enjoyed having them with us. They are special young women, and we're lucky to have them in our lives. They brought a new energy into our household.

Last Thursday - on one of my non-working days - I went up to nearby Banbury to the shopping center there. I had a couple of errands to run, and I was looking forward to some shopping/window-shopping time on my own. Except within a few minutes of getting there, I had this really icky feeling. After a few minutes, I realized what was wrong. I WAS alone. I didn't have a teenager with me. It felt weird...sad...not so inspired.

I believe we now have a little better idea what their mother and father must feel when their "girls" aren't around.

Your aunt and uncle over here in England love you two, and we hope you both feel like you have a little piece of home here!

Janet