As those who have read previous postings already know, earlier this year, I lost my youngest daughter, Emily Jane, about six weeks short of her third birthday. Among the affectionate names I called her, one of my favorites was “Buddy Girl.” When I asked her whether she was my buddy girl, she'd routinely respond with “Yeah, I’m your buddy girl—and Mommy’s buddy girl, and Maddie’s buddy girl, and Wydia’s buddy girl… and Gwamma’s buddy girl, and Pwampa’s buddy girl, and Unco Mikie’s buddy girl, and Unco Steve’s buddy girl!”
Sometimes when Emily and I played together, I became the "Mucka Mucka Man," chasing her and tickling her while booming in a low crescendo "Mucka mucka MUCKA mucka mucka!" She loved it and so did I. Our times playing together were among the happiest moments of my life. I picture Emily a great deal, and much of the time I do, I picture her running in her little trot, pursuing, fleeing, or charging, always with a sense of fun and mischief.
While creating this site, I recalled the happy moments I played Mucka Mucka Man. As Emily has been very much in my thoughts, I felt it fitting to honor her memory with an inside reference to the laughter we shared. I miss her love, laughter, and wonder every day. There wasn't a bad day she couldn't cure. Our next-door neighbor once said that Emily was "pure sweetness," and she was. She was the purest joy I've ever known.
I love you, Emily Jane.
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