"Does she think I'm cool?"

One of my five nieces, Talia, came to New York to visit both me and her old babysitter. I got two nights with her and I spent the whole time wondering, does she think I'm cool? She's nine years old and all I wanted to do was make her happy, but I couldn't get much of a reaction out of her. She's really mellow. I acknowledged that we are related after I finally pried the information out of her that Mexican food is indeed her favorite cuisine. She totally loves my cat but does she love me? I'm the oddball of the family, I guess that's part of my angst.

After a ridiculously long Sunday subway ride, we got out and saw the beginning of Central Park and then took a bicycle taxi to our intended destination. Even though the driver was lightly creepy, she enjoyed the ride outside. We both dug the Hall of Minerals in the Museum of Natural History, although the giant dinosaur bones didn't do it for her, I was still amused. She remarked several times that it was just like the movie. A small triumph on my quest for cool aunt domination.

Then, on a high from the hot dog stand, I screwed up the timing of "The Lion King" which I had will call tickets to but the wrong time in my head. Agonizing from the knowledge of letting her down, I acted quickly and bought tickets to another show. I think "The Pirate Queen" bored her in part, but she loved Times Square and I got to be the one that showed it to her first, just like her older sister, I had the privilege of showing her the most famous part of Midtown New York City. I feel lucky that I am that Auntie. I still can't get over how much I wanted to impress her. What does that say about me that I value being cool so much? Hrmmm...