Thanks Marina!

I lost a great friend and colleague to cancer a short time ago. She was amazing. She loved my children, was a great mentor, and one of my "moms" here in town. After Marina passed away her son and another friend had a garage sale and her son gave Travers a box of old playmobile toys. It must have been a sailing set and a hospital judging by all the incredibly teeny-tiny pieces that were in the box.

Well...just yesterday something sparked Travers' memory and he asked if he could play with the toys in the box that Marina's son had given him. He said he would play on the table so his sisters would not eat or loose the teeny-tiny pieces.

He started playing. About 30 minutes later he said he was hot and needed to take his shirt off. He then asked...under his guidance and on the table....if his sister could join him. They were thrilled...but also wanted to play without a shirt on.

Well...I kid you not...almost 2 hours later the kids were still playing. Isabelle was putting someone to bed (not knowing it was a hospital bed) and rocking them to sleep. Travers had set up every little piece and told many, many great stories to his sisters. And Amelie loved putting the hats, shoes and clothes on the people.

Marina must have been smiling up in heaven watching the kids play with something that was obviously special to her and worth her keeping. She would have loved the stories and would have joined in the play. She would laugh. Thanks! I miss you!