HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR TIFFY...

Today is Tiffany Ann's Birthday!

She is my oldest niece yet never was I able to think

of her as my niece,

probably because we are only three years apart

and even though she was her Momma's oldest,

she must have no memory of being alone.

She was raised, I believe as just another sister.

Tiffy,

you were my first friend,

my playmate,

you went along with any idea I had

and for me, that was fantastic

because no one else ever let me make decisions.

We dressed up often,

(Well until you realized you didn't like the

confinement of clothes ;^)

We played Momma's and Daddy's often.

When you moved to Houma,

I remember being so sad because I lost

my daily playmate.

I know your memory of being a child

is limited but I know you remember

when we wrote the song,

I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Oh, we would stand on top of that chest freezer

with our pretend microphones

and sing our hearts out.

I also remember you and I found this

old yellow nylon rope

and placed in an old aquarium

that your Perrin had outside,

every day we would stir it with a stick

and eventually it began to turn from

yellow to black because of the bottom

of the aquarium but you and I were convinced

we had come up with a new way to make wigs

and we were going to be rich!

When the famous BB Q's would go on,

we could all stay outside so late

you and I and C and any other kids

who happened to be there

would get on your old swing in the yard

swing and sing,

I still remember to songs:

THE WORLD IS A CIRCLE WITHOUT A BEGINNING...

AND

THERE ONCE WERE THREE FISHERMAN,

THE FIRST ONE'S NAME WAS JACOB....

We used to go to Sister school,

do you remember sister school?

We would go to the LaSalette Center and nuns

would come to teach us about God.

We used to love sister school.

Then when we became teenagers and then

young adults, we hung out so much,

Remember sneaking out the house to

meet Roxanne?

It was excitement and a challenge

just to get out that house without anyone

seeing us, even though we never did anything.

Just a few memories to share with you on

your birthday...

Want you to know I LOVE YOU.

I know you sometimes have to make hard

decisions and I know sometimes you

question whether you are doing what

is right not really for you but for

Tedi because she is your priority.

I will remind you again, today on your 43rd

(I think)

That the only person who you need to answer to

is yourself and your God,

You need to learn to be easier on yourself,

with love and forgiveness,

and what I tell you all the time:

TEDI WILL BE HAPPY IF YOU ARE HAPPY,

TEDI WILL BE FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE FINE.

She is one of those atypical little girls

who is very mature when it comes to the ways

of the world.

She understands that material things

are not what she needs to be happy.

All she needs is you,

and she will be fine.

I love you and hold all our old memories

in my heart.

There had to be times in your life,

when we were younger,

that you must have been so sick and tired

of living in my shadow,

but I have never regretted the little

curly haired girl who

stood in the shadow of my heart.

Love you, girl!

Make it a good one!