I love you, too, Valerie!

I was doing some cleaning and sorting today and I came across a note from my niece, Valerie. She's all grown up now and you can read about her adventures here. But back in 1984, when she was seven years old, she gave me this very sweet note...


"You make my heart break into a 1,000 sweet hearts"

And I also found this journal entry, from my journal, in 1985 about my then 9 year old niece:

May 6, 1985 - This morning I have something to look forward to - I am taking Val fishing. I treasure the time I get to spend with her. She is so special. She has this understanding, a sense of reality, that I find such good company. Some of it is probably just youthful innocence but it is also her. I really don't think it is merely a phase she will grow out of. I trust that we will always be good friends.