I'm an Average-Aunt, once removed...

So tonight I'm babysitting my Great-niece and Great-nephew. Yea. Nothing adds "age" to one's self image like the adverb "great" to a familial connection. Remember YOUR Great-Aunt? Did she wear her white hair back in a bun? Did she wear sensible shoes? Did she bake cookies or leave you something nice in her will? Boy...are these kids gonna be disappointed! (For the record, I'm wearing jeans, a t-shirt, Ugg boots and my blond hair is "swooped" across my forehead, J-Lo style!!!-cause I'm hipcool) My nephew Stephen is hiding out in the computer room, probably hacking into the school system just for kicks...my niece is quietly watching cartoons in the great room. The family beast, a large but benign giant Golden-Doodle named Max visits between the two to check on them-apparently I can't be trusted to safeguard their welfare.

Stephen got a ice-cream sandwich as part of his dinner and Kathryn ate about 400 mini candy bars-I'm stunned that she's sitting in one place...Bravo baby girl!. My niece, Tiffany, and her hubby are visiting her Greek in-laws. I hope they stay out late enough to feel that they truly got away for the evening. I ate one of her bananas. And I'm using her wireless network to do some homework...and this. I don't knit or crochet, or bake cookies. I do rock in a rocking chair...I have THAT going for me...as far as being a GREAT Aunt goes....

And adding the word "Great" to the title just because we're one generation removed adds pressure, in my not-so-humble opinion. What if the kids think I'm just an average Aunt...once removed? What then? Then, when introducing me at their wedding, they'll be forced (by honesty) to say, "This is my Great Aunt Dee Dee, but truth be told, she's really just sort of average, so this is my average aunt, once removed". That's a mouth full and will take up all sorts of valuable time better spent dancing at their reception. I can't take that kind of pressure.

Poor kids.