She will not be 2 years old until June, and she is not old enough to leave home, but she thinks she is. Twice she has spent the night with me. Eternal nights.

The first one was a few months back and she had to do it because big brother was going to do it. This time, last night, was the result of a week or so of “Granengan's house, pease?”

On the last visit (the all-nighter, that is) somewhere around 3 a.m. I decided there would be no more of doing it because big brother did — she would have to beg before she spent the night with me again.

After her recent days of “Granengan's house, pease?” which surely came across as begging, she came again.

Oh, my.

I suppose we slept some... I just don't know when. She was tired and actually asked for “bed, now” early, so we retired shortly after 9 p.m. We just didn't stay down for very long.

“Dark now.”

“Light back on.”

“Juice, pease.”

“Dark Îgin now.”

“Light back on.”

“More juice, pease.”

“Dark Îgin now.”

“Light back on.”

“Ant bites hurt, kiss Îem.”

Finally, we dozed again. Until Bunny had to have some loving. And of course I had to wake up and give it to him. There's a fuzzy little duck stuck to Bunny's ear (Bunny was an Easter basket rabbit one year) and I can't tell you how many times the duck on Bunny's ear got kissed last night. We took turns forever, until I began to beg, “Dark now, please?”

She eventually agreed. She even dozed at one point. Then the words arose once more from the bundle of warmth tucked under my arm, “Light on now, juice pease.”

More juice it was.

More juice means more diaper changes of course. There were four during the night. And at this writing, as she sits here on my lap pointing to the keys I should hit, I can't begin to tell you how many more times we were up and down during the dark hours while big brother and Granddaddy slept soundly downstairs.

And the source of most of the misery I feel this morning? I was not allowed to turn away from her. I tried repeatedly. “Back” she would say nicely, entreating me to turn back over toward her before she would grab my shoulder and attempt to force the issue. At one point, she inserted a tiny forefinger inside my bottom lip like a fish hook and held on fast until she dozed off again.

At other times during the night, when I would attempt to doze, that same little hand would finger my face, whispering softly, “Nose, mouf, eye, ear.” The ear was definitely her favorite spot. I'm sure she knew every little dip and curve long before daybreak.

Oddly enough it was around daybreak before she finally dozed into what appeared to be deep sleep. For two hours we lay there in quiet bliss, until suddenly I heard the voice again, “Downstairs, now.”

She is no worse for the wear. I, on the other hand, will feel the effects of the night for days... and enjoy the memory for years.

I was talking with someone earlier this week about what it means to be wealthy. He said it means being able to pay bills on time, eat well and enjoy life.

Then I recalled the words of the preacher who penned the book of Ecclesiastes, “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward... For he will not consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”

And here I am, now, in this moment, realizing anew that it's nights like last night that give me gladness of heart and make me wealthy. Brief moments, hours, days/nights spent with family and friends, giving birth to memories that last forever and making me rich beyond measure.

The Henry County woman (Sybil) that I wrote about last week is still fighting for her life. Valiantly from what I hear. Keep praying. They are going to try to take her off the respirator today. My sister thinks a miracle is in the making. Sybil's husband, family and friends are with her, encouraging, stroking, praying, standing by her. In America today, that alone is a miracle. We all should rejoice, as we keep praying.

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