Thinking back to 1998

When my niece was almost 6, she was obsessed with the animated Anastasia. She had a dream where she walked into an Anastasia store that only sold Anastasia stuff. As her dream went, she could purchase everything Anastasia for $100, and she had exactly $100 in her purse.

I went on eBay and purchased Anastasia memorabilia from all over the world (my favorite: plastic Anasastia medallions that had been packaged in cereal boxes in Ireland). I spread them out all over my apartment and put a sign on the front door: Anastasia Store -- Everything $100. The look on her face when she came in the door, the way she clasped her hands together under her chin and looked around the room in wonderment at the Anastasia dolls and books and puzzles and pillowcase, etc. ... I'll never forget it. How often in life do you get to make someone's dream come true?

Now she's almost 20 and has just moved into her first place with her boyfriend. It's a one BR cottage. He is happy because, even though it is small and old and has crappy floors, it's one of the few stand-alone rentals they could afford. She is happy because it has a fireplace and she thinks it's the Taj Mahal.

I am happy that she is enjoying her college life so much. She is getting great grades, and has made friends and has fallen in love. Hooray for her.

But you have to forgive me if sometimes I miss the little girl who laced her fingers together under her chin when she was (so easily) delighted.