Imagination is more important than knowledge.  For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.  ~Albert Einstein

While playing legos, Kyle creates different worlds and characters.

Sometimes after swimming I’ll take Kyle to Sheetz to get an MTO (Made-To-Order).  This past week, I needed to fuel up the car so we stopped to get a quick sandwich.  When we were waiting inside for our order, Kyle and I just so happen to be standing right in front of the doughnut display.  Now I don’t think there’s any treat that Kyle’s likes more than a doughnut!  When he realized what stood behind him, I knew our mission was compromised.  He gave me one of those innocent, question type of sideways smile.  His eyes said, “Can I have a doughnut?”  Almost as quick as his eyes questioned me, my eyes and smile simply said, “No.”  I gave him a big hug and said, “We don’t need doughnuts.”  He said, “Yes but I love them so much!”  I told him I agreed, but we didn’t need the extra fat, especially this late in the evening.

I expected a little bit of an argument or convincing from Kyle, and I was ready to hold my ground, but neither happened.  In fact, what he did next totally cracked me up!  He stood there and admired the doughnuts.  He then told me about each one. He described what he thought each would taste like and which one would be the best.  He read each doughnut’s name out loud and criticized the name and the look of the doughnut.

Kyle's Aunt Nikki took him to the Lego store in NYC. You can just hear him dreaming up different battles.

He then reached for the door handle and slightly opened the glass door of the doughnut display, closed his eyes, and took a big whiff of the doughnut aroma.  He said, “Umm Aunt Heather, they smell so good. What if I would just take a nibble out of each one?”  I laughed and said, “Then it would look like a mouse was running around loose in there.”  Kyle said, “Ya, then no one would suspect me of eating a piece of each doughnut.”  Then he went into a whole story about him being a mouse.  He told me which doughnut would be eaten first.  He was so engrossed in his story, including sound effects, that he didn’t notice people passing by and watching him.  I know he made their day just because of the amount of smiles being exchanged.  I think he was meaning to talk to me, but he really was lost in his own thought, humoring himself.

Kyle's Bakugon figures all lined-up... ready for battle!

When did we, as adults, lose that imagination? I am happy to say that, while I don’t use it all the time, it does make it’s way to the forefront of my mind and get loose from my lips.

Surprise is the greatest gift, which life can grant us.  ~ Boris Pasternak

Kyle helps his Gigi stack wood, although he had to have work gloves on.

Kyle is not what I would call a worker bee.  He is more the queen bee type, dictating orders rather than exerting himself.  Please keep in mind this wasn’t always the case.  He loved to help vacuum, dust, do yard work and the list goes on and on, just like his dad.  Then something happened about five years ago and he started to get lazy and didn’t want to help with chores, let alone go out of his way for others without being asked.

Every once in a while, Kyle redeems himself and takes me totally off guard.

This past Friday, Kyle and I had to run to the grocery store to finish getting our ingredients for our cooking show, soon to air on my blog!  Please look for it later.  While walking the isles and grabbing the few items we needed, I remembered my mom mentioned she was running low on dog food.  We went down the dog food isle to save the day for the dogs.  I might need to mention that we have two Labrador retrievers, a yellow, slightly hefty one (I won’t embarrass him by saying his weight) and a black beady-eyed 70lb puppy.  Bringing home a small bag of dog food would only wet their appetite so Kyle and I found the largest bag (38 lbs).  Keep in mind we didn’t have a buggy since we only needed a few items.  I was going to have Kyle carry the single items while I carried the dog food to the check out.  Just as I was bending over, Kyle stopped me and said, “Wait Aunt Heather, you can’t carry that. Remember when you threw out your back?”  It’s been since July when I strained my lower back (moving a keg of beer for the 64^th Annual Piper Reunion).   He said, “I don’t want you to hurt it again, remember Aunt Heather how much it hurt?”  What a sweet gesture!  I told him, “I’ll be ok.” and he said, “No, wait Aunt Heather, I’ll go get a buggy. Don’t move!”  He ran out of the isle so fast (Kyle doesn’t normally go above two miles an hour) to the front of the store to retrieve a buggy.  He shot back pretty fast too.  I asked him, “You didn’t run into anyone did you?”  He said, “Well… not really, but I almost did.”  O my! But you just have to love the gesture.  Then, as he pulled the buggy up beside the dog food bag, I went to reach down and he jumped in front of me and started lifting it up.  My Narrow really wanted to make sure I didn’t get hurt!  I love my man, sometimes he just surprises you.

I do want to point out that his little acts of kindness are not a totally endangered species.  But it does bring a smile to my face and makes me proud to call them out.

Happy Birthday Ryan!  We miss you very much!

Ryan 1981

Today, Ryan would have been 34 years old with a ten year old son.  He made it to his 24th birthday before his untimely death.

Ryan 1983

You know I used to tell Ryan that I couldn’t wait to watch him lose his hair cause, you see, it was already receding a bit and both of our grandfathers on each side of the family were bald.  So I told him, “It’s going to hit you directly in the head.”  I am a bit of a stinker and picking on Ryan was a part of my daily activity.  Now he didn’t hold back any, he dished it out as much as he took it.  But that was the fun of having a sibling.  It’s funny the things we remember.

Ryan 1984

Ryan and I were 21 months apart, the same as Nicole and I.  Being pretty close in age, and being the two youngest grandchildren, we were sometimes two peas in a pod.  With his blonde hair and blue eyes, we looked nothing alike. He was a bit more reserved and quiet compared to me, but he was just as much of a stinker as I was.  My sister was the law abiding, strict, tattle tale that we would keep things from.  Ryan and I would brag to each other about things we got away with, things mom, dad and Nicole didn’t know.  We were never bad kids, truly we weren’t, but we did enjoy life with harmless, stupid fun.

Ryan 1985

I remember I couldn’t wait for Ryan’s 21st birthday celebration.  I was really excited to take him out. We had a great time going around to the local bars in Greensburg not getting drunk or stupid, but really enjoying the evening.

Ryan 1986

Ryan was a great guy not just because he was my brother, but because he was a very sincere person, alike like Kyle.  He may have been my little brother, but he sometimes acted like a big brother.  Of course being six foot tall at my five foot six inches did give him the appearance of a big brother.

Ryan 1987

We had a typical family. Not perfect, just typical.   We fought as kids growing up, but there was never ever a question of being there for each other when needed.

Ryan's Graduation - Greater Latrobe High School 1996

Ryan was a smart guy- great with mechanics.  He was not only a hard worker, and I mean manual labor, but he had business sense.  He was like my pap, whereas they had too much heart, if you know what I mean.  They were too nice, if that’s possible.  Regardless, it made him who he was.

I could go on and on about Ryan, stories after stories, but I really just wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday!  More for me than him, but I think it’s good for Kyle to get to know his dad.

Do you have a story about Ryan?  If so and you would like to share it with Kyle or any member of the family, I would love to hear from you.  In fact, I will create a page dedicated to Ryan’s life so anyone can add stories as it strikes your fancy.

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. ~Benjamin Franklin

Sometimes I wonder if caring and sincerity are learned traits or are they taught? Or is it a little bit of both? I always wondered if being a worrier, not a warrior is an innate part of a person or is it again taught?

Kyle with Scooby walking in the woods. 8/2011

Kyle is truly a sweet kid. I’m not just saying that because he’s my nephew. I have watched him interact with other children, and parents have proudly come up to me saying what a sweet and polite child he was. I know I’ve said it before, but he really does have a big heart and he cares.  However, he worries about things sometimes WAY too much. He is just like my sister and mom, they worry about things that aren’t in their control. Now my dad and I, that’s a different story. We are not constant worriers. Not to say we’re heartless, but we realize that sometimes things are out of our control and we wish the best, but that’s life. You see, I know God has his own plans. Sure you can petition your feelings, but you don’t know the bigger picture that God has in store. Sure I may pray for someone privately and I hope for the best, but in the end it’s God’s decision. I lose sleep over very few things and I don’t believe in wasting precious energy on worrying, especially when I can use that energy toward a better cause.  Also, I think worrying is negative energy and it’s not healthy to be engulfed by it.   Our minds are a powerful tool and can affect us physically, spiritually, and mentally. Plus, more than not, worriers seem to lose sight of the situation and live it as though it’s their problem, taking it on personally. Not good!  So on that note, why did I go into an entire dissertation on worrying?

Lately, Kyle and I have been going to his swimming lessons on Wednesdays, which his breast stroke is coming a long way and he is starting to learn the butterfly stroke. Ok, I digress. After we ate dinner I had him help me with my lawn. I wanted to cut the grass before I had another Amazon jungle on my hands. He’s great! He pulls the weeds, picks up fallen branches, helps me bag my lawn clippings and drag the bags to the street. His help is really appreciated although, I must admit, I can’t wait till he can do the lawn on his own.

Kyle diving at the YMCA- 2010

The last time we worked in the yard, Kyle found two holes in the ground- full of bees! What was amazing was, at that point, I had already mowed over the holes not knowing. It’s a wonder I didn’t get completely mauled by the bees. We marked the holes and I waited till nightfall and dumped oil down the hole. Don’t judge me! I didn’t know what to do with them and I wanted to take care of the situation right away. I thought the oil would coat the hole and either kill them or keep them out. Well guess again, the holes were bigger and were occupied by a LOT of bees. Yikes!

Here’s the kicker: I’m not totally sure if I’m allergic to bees or not. I know I was stung as a kid and recently I was stung by a yellow jacket in the leg, but I was told that my pap developed an allergy to bees later in life. More recently, I am now allergic to poison ivy, which I wasn’t before.

Well, Kyle came up to me and said, “No Aunt Heather, you can’t cut there!” and he grabbed my arm just as I was about to fire up the lawn mower. I said, “We have to get this done.” He said, “No, you don’t know if your allergic.” You see when we originally discovered the bees, first thing Kyle asked me if I was allergic. I told him I wasn’t sure and said, “Well if I swell up and stop breathing, you’ll know you have to drive me to the hospital,” half joking. If I know Kyle, he got two things out of that statement. One: I could be allergic and he didn’t want anything to happen to me. Two: He would have to drive me to the hospital and he’s not allowed to drive, nor does he know how. So Kyle’s worrying begins.

Narrow was not happy about this situation. I told him that I would mow around the holes. I told him to go and pull weeds, I thought that would keep him busy and keep him away from the bees. Well, as I made my trips around the backyard, I was looking for Kyle. I didn’t see him, I thought he went into the house.  That is, until I felt someone behind me. I turned my head and jumped. There he was, following behind me as I mowed. He scared the crap out of me! He was watching me to make sure I didn’t come close to the bees. Then, when I was about two feet away, Kyle grabbed my arm and said, “No Aunt Heather it’s dangerous!” He said, “You’re getting close, you better stop!”

Kyle was a bee for Halloween (courtesy of Aunt Nikki) 2003

Ah, my little man! I finished mowing around the holes without going over them and then we finished the front yard. My logic was,  if I managed to get stung, at least my yard was done. I told Kyle to get my gas tank and matches. He brought them to me with such excitement, he said, “We’re going to blow them up!” I laughed and proceeded to pour gas down each hole. I was going to light a match and realized that Kyle was practically on top of me, holding the gas tank. I had him put the gas tank back in the garage. We lit up the holes and they burned. First the gas burned off, then the old oil. It was more like an in-ground oil lamp, kinda pretty actually. Kyle said, “Should I go get a class of water Aunt Heather, in case we need it?” I said to go ahead and get a bucket of water, which we didn’t need but it was a logical suggestion.

After our bee excursion, we had to go to the store to pick up a couple of pies for Kyle’s half brother, it was his eighteenth birthday. In the car, Kyle was telling me that he had to go to the doctors this week and get a shot in the arm for 5th grade. He said he really doesn’t like needles and I told him most people don’t. He admitted that when he sat in the waiting room he started to cry. I said, “Why?” and he said, “Cause I didn’t want to get a shot.” He said, “I think it’s because I was thinking of it for the last three days.” Can you believe that? He got himself all worked up for days before.

As I took Kyle home, he proceeded to tell me he how the second bee hole came into existence. He said, “The queen bee led the other bees out of the hive and started to make another hole.” His theory was that the hives connected underground to a much larger hive. He said, “Ya Aunt Heather, they had to build a second shaft in case of a cave in.” I couldn’t help but smiling. You see, that weekend we watched the movie National Treasure. Toward the end of the movie they commented on making a second way out in case of a cave in. O my Narrow, he’s always thinking.

As I was on my way home, I remembered a few things Kyle said to me. About a month ago, Mineral Virginia was hit by a 6.8ish category earthquake, which I felt in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. Kyle said he felt it too. He said, “When I heard we had an earthquake in Virginia, I was worried, you know Aunt Heather, cause it was Virginia.” That’s where my sister lives, just outside Washington D.C. It doesn’t surprise me that he was probably concerned for my sister until I picked him up that week. I said, “Why didn’t you call your Aunt Nikki?” and he said, “Cause I was at Daycare and I didn’t have a phone.” I told him if he ever wanted to talk to us, just let the ladies know to give me a call.

Another situation that came to mind was hurricane Irene that ripped up through the Carolina’s and New York City a short time later. Kyle called my sister and said, “Ok Aunt Nikki this is what you need to do, you need to pack up your stuff in the car and start driving inland.” He wanted to make sure she was safe.

Yep, that’s my little man. He has a heart of gold and he really truly cares. Are all children this sympathetic? Am I being biased?

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness.  Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.  Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.  ~August Wilson

This story has nothing to do with Kyle and yet has everything to do with him.  Recently, September 8, 2011 to be exact, I went to a case study lecture at Seton Hill University.  I received the invite via Facebook and upon reading the description, I was taken back.  I kinda remembering seeing this case on the news, but not really remembering or knowing the full story.

Me with Jennifer Schuett and Darby Zerbini at Seton Hill University 9/8/11

Let me give you a very brief synopsis.  Jennifer was kidnapped at the age of eight from her Texas bedroom in the middle of the night by a stranger, raped, and had her throat sliced from ear to ear before being dumped in an overgrown field to die.  Fortunately, Jennifer was found and made a full recovery including her ability to speak, which was medically impossible.  Over the years, Jennifer worked with law enforcement officials, local news, and became proactive with online tools to help solve her case.  Nearly 20 years later, Jennifer helped to find her attacker.

As I was saying, Jennifer came to the University to share her story, and her message of hope and strength.  Now, going to this lecture definitely was a tough one, but it was something I wanted to hear.  Mostly because I thought I might hear information to help protect Kyle in one way or another, or what to do, Lord forbid there was a serious crime situation.  Jennifer’s story was very inspiring, and yes I did get what I wanted out of the lecture, but I also went away with so much more.

Jennifer Schuett's case study lecture

Jennifer, at the age of eight, while in the hospital with her throat slashed, not being able to speak, gave the police a full description of the attacker, his name, and a description of the car.  This was done through writing notes!  Today, that still amazes me.  How do I know this?  During Jennifer’s lecture she had a very detailed PowerPoint presentation put together containing images of the drivers license of the attacker, taken at the time of the crime, and the police sketch drawn, all based off of her written descriptions.  Same with the car!  Amazing!!  Something else that Jennifer said, which I can see, but really made me stop and take note, was how the police used her information, or I should say didn’t really use her information.  They dismissed her accounts of the attack!  They said she was in shock, being nearly on the brink of death, and she wasn’t thinking correctly to be accurate.  Plus, I’m sure they dismissed her because she was an eight-year-old girl.  What they didn’t realize was Jennifer now was on a mission that would ultimately take almost 20 years to solve, with or without their help.

Respect comes in many forms and I think listening and believing in children is one not to be taken lightly.  I know Kyle has said and done some very profound things, sometimes they are absolutely brilliant!  Children can accomplish so much, especially with the right guidance and encouragement.  Jennifer is walking testament to that.

Something else I got out of the lecture, something people are always looking for and sometimes it’s so obvious it’s right in front of our faces, and that’s a miracle.  Miracles do happen!  Not only was Jennifer a miracle because she lived to tell her story, but there was more to it that she explained.  During Jennifer’s stay in the hospital, before she could speak, she made a squeak noise.  Her and her mother heard it and immediately contacted the doctors.  They placed a camera down her throat to view her voice-box while she tried to make sounds.  Nothing!  The doctors said she will never be able to speak again.  The next morning she woke up able to talk.  It was almost as if God said, tell your story Jennifer.  I mean, she remembered EVERY detail of the crime and now she had a voice to speak out.  I know we all have a purpose in life and Jennifer has been on the right path with her activism against child crimes.  She didn’t sit back and ignore this tragedy, she accepted it and used the voice God gave her.

Please read her story, it is truly inspiring!  www.JusticeForJennifer.com

Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.  ~ President George W. Bush.

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of 911.  The entire week, leading up to today, was a lot of reminiscing, which I’ve always felt is a great way to keep those who have passed alive in our minds and our hearts.  Everyone seems to remember what they were doing when they heard the United States was under attack.  I was at Seton Hill University (was the college at the time) working on my undergrad.  Informed of the tragedy by a classmate, who was from Bangladesh, I didn’t believe one word of it until I saw the news.  I remember the conversation very clearly.  He said, in broken English, “Did you hear we are under attack from terrorists?”  My response was, “Who is under attack?”  He said, “The United States. They crashed into buildings in New York City, the Pentagon, and somewhere locally.”  In disbelief I said, “I highly doubt terrorists could get close enough to the Pentagon, maybe it was an accident?”  Well, sadly, I was wrong.  I missed the events because I was in an early class while America was blatantly being assaulted and human life was disrespected and discarded.

Seton Hill played the news all throughout the classrooms and hallways, then they promptly dismissed school.  We could have gone to the chapel to pray, however I went straight to my parents house.  You see, my family didn’t live far from Shanksville, especially my brother and my nephew who wasn’t even two months old.  I remember sitting with my mom watching the news.  While we watched the news, I said, “All those poor families. I feel so bad for them!”  My heart didn’t reach out to those who died, not that I didn’t say a prayer for them, but my sorrow rested with the survivors of the deceased.  And when I read that some people lost several family members, I thought, “How horrible!”  I couldn’t imagine losing a close family member so suddenly.

Of course, I reached out to my brother and my sister- dad was at work.  It was a little bit harder getting a hold of my sister.  At the time, she lived in Tucson, Arizona and she worked for Raytheon.  She designs surface to air missiles.  She has worked on the Stealth and who knows what other type of weaponry.  Upon that realization,  I must say, my mind switched gears and became concerned for her.  She was in complete lock down and the security was at full throttle.  I remember telling a friend that if the terrorists decide to mess with my sister, I will personally go overseas and show the terrorists you don’t mess with the Piper’s!

Kyle has asked questions about 911 but of course he doesn’t really grasp the magnitude of what happened and he never will.  I continue to try my best to explain what seemed like a recent event, now a history book entry, to him.  It’s hard to explain just pure hatred for innocent lives.

Everyone has their own tale to tell of that earth shattering day.  I read Karl Rove’s, Laura Bush’s, and George W. Bush’s accounts of 911 in their books.  Very powerful!  I remember how sad of a time it was, yet there was a sense of hope and pride.  I remember driving and really taking notice of all the American flags displayed on vehicles, houses, flying high on flag polls and along buildings.  That was a good safe feeling!  I am very proud of our country.  We are not perfect but, when it counts, we are like family standing up for one another and reaching out to help when we can.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this sadness was a prelude to what was about to happen to my family less than a month later.  That’s when I completely sympathized with the loss of the 911 families.

Student Project Portrays 9/11 Testimony of American Airlines Pilot