REWARDS OF AUNTHOOD I always wanted to be a mom. I wanted a baby to love and care for -- someone to call me mommy. All throughout my 20s and 30s, I desired the experience of childbirth and motherhood. I had a strong maternal instinct that needed to be satisfied. But, it never happened. I'm a physically disabled woman who uses a wheelchair who never married or had children. However, something else happened to me. On April 11, 1989, at nearly 38 years old, I finally became an aunt to a baby girl. While some may not see the importance in becoming an aunt, I was still thrilled beyond compare. The day my niece was born, I was in my office. I worked for the Department of Recreation and Parks at the time. The office was very slow that day, as the summer programs had not begun, no groups were meeting in the Community Room, and the staff was scarce. The only sounds coming from the building were the ticking of the clock and the occasional ring of the phone. Knowing my sister was in the hospital, I was anxiously awaiting the call announcing the birth. At approximately 2 o'clock, my mom called my office exclaiming the good news. A girl! Wow! I now had a baby girl in my life. Someone was going to call me aunt. I knew, even before I saw her, that I would love her. I was so excited! I could buy her pretty clothes and teach her so many things about life in her new world. As she was growing, I would encourage her to be anything she wanted to be and let her know that girls were not limited to certain fields of work. I would try to be close with her and make sure she knew I'd always be there for her. I remember looking through the glass window at the babies in the maternity ward at the hospital. There she was -- Amanda Rose, my precious little niece. She was beautiful. She had lots of thick, dark hair. Lying there, so tiny and innocent, I stared at her being and counted her fingers and toes. She was a perfect baby. I know if anyone were to describe my expression when looking at this baby for the first time, they would say that I had a smile on my face from "ear to ear". I found that I truly loved being an aunt. When Amanda was a baby, I was very involved in her day-to-day life. I knew, for instance, when she got her first tooth, said her first word, and took her very first step. Growing up, I let her know she could talk to me about anything. Amanda is 13 now. I don't see her as much as I would like to. She is such a busy young lady. School, dance classes, religion class, and friends take up her time. When I do see her, we have a nice time together. We enjoy our conversations. She's very bright, talented, and a caring person. I am very proud of her, not only for the excellent marks on her report card or for the great dancer that she is -- but for the kind heart that she has. She is very giving of herself and will, for example, befriend someone who has no friends. I loved watching Amanda grow and still love seeing her turning into a lady. I feel close to her and hope she always remains close to me, wherever she is. No, Amanda is not my daughter, but she is still a big part of me. -- Linda Napolitano .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³