What's not to love.....

Beautiful Heather, snapped by Kev at Cindy's wedding Aug '10

Meet Heather... my cousin.  She is as beautiful inside as she is out!!! I love her like the little sister that I never had.  The day she was born... my whole world changed. I can remember that day vividly... February 13th, 1974.  I came home from school to find my mother in the house mopping the kitchen floor with some country music blaring from an LP on the stereo.  I don't remember being in a particularly happy mood, but I do remember getting in one when my mom told me the good news... "Lulu had a little, baby girl today... Heather Marie."  I felt all warm inside and very happy! My baby!  My Heather!  I pictured fields of Heather... all purple and smelling so good. (That's all a nine year old could picture or perhaps that is what my mother translated "heather" into for me?)  I wondered why they named her that as it was NOT a popular name back then.  I think SHE started the trend!  Although there are hundreds of "Heather's" now, there are NONE like this one.

Enjoying a Mexican Martini at Trudy's 2000

I bonded with her from the moment I saw her. I held her and I played with her.  I taught her what I knew...about flirting with boys.... I TRIED to brush her hair... once!  We cuddled and giggled, fought (not much) and made up.  I watched her grow into a gawky, uncomfortable young teenager... ...full of rage, but grace at the same time.... She always was so loving and giving to me and most everyone around her in the family (uh, um, except for maybe her little brother and step father... for a short time).

We have been in each others' lives for as long as I can remember and when it was time for her to settle down and get married... I was right there, by her side.  So honored was I when she called upon me to be her matron of honor when she found the man of her dreams and soul mate for life.  He is beautiful, too, in much the same way as Heather...  kind, thoughtful, giving and sweet.  When I look at the photo of her, taken at my sister's wedding, all that love wells up inside of me and I just feel happy!  I love this girl, my cousin, my Heather... deeply!

With her brother, Avery.

Heather has persevered in her education and I am so proud of her.  She is the only one in the family with a PhD. We like to kid her and call her "Dr. Heather Feather" or "Hester Marshmellow Traino Tracko whacko".. Well, I just made that one up. LOL!   I cannot even imagine what it took to achieve that goal, but knowing her... with that focus and motivation.... I'm not surprised.  She once fell off a horse that she was riding while visiting me in Fort Huachuca and was dragged for a little bit.  When I urged her to "get back on the horse and ride it home" she didn't want to, but finally did.  I knew she would never ride one again if she didn't and to this day, it didn't stop her from wanting to ride again. She climbed back on and gracefully, covered in tear-streaked dirt on her face, rode it back to the barn.  Another time, when we were rock climbing on a ship... SHE was the only one that reached the top and rang the bell.  It was really HARD and I won't tell you who else she was "competing" with, but I saw the determination in her that I rarely see in anyone I know.  She must get her strength from the "Gardiner Wimmens", but when it comes to tenderness, she's got that too... to nurture and to love.   Anyone who has the honor of knowing this wonderfully, crazy lady is blessed.  I am! 

Yeah, right, try to BRUSH these curls!

Just taking a walk down memory lane.... I love you, m'dear!  (If you ever read this...)