My oldest sister is in town for a visit for Mother's Day. She brought her three-year-old granddaughter with her to see our mother. My wife and I just came home from spending the evening with the three of them. Three of four generations was an interesting dynamic to watch.

We had a wonderful time together. My little (grand?) niece is quite a bundle of energy. She hasn't seen much of me, and seemed to be pretty afraid of me. My sister and my mom spent a good deal of the evening trying to get her to warm up to me. I mentioned to them that it would be okay and that the tide would eventually turn. It turned abruptly. Someone mentioned something about her father and I made a comment in return, speaking his name.

"Todd?" my niece asked, staring at me, "Todd is my daddy's name."

"Uh huh," I confirmed.

"Do you love him?" she asked, still staring.

"I sure do," I said without really looking her direction.

After that, I seemed to not only exist, but suddenly had become worthy of actual attention. She seems to have a lot going on in that little cranium of hers. I have to wonder what she thinks about. She's a sweet kid, and when my wife and I were leaving, she invited us over to her house to spend the night. We told her we would like to do that one of these times.

I hate to sound like a geezer, but they do grow up so fast.