The Pink One

Day 24

Many, many years ago, when Joe was three years old, we spent a family xmas with my brother and his family at his mother-in-law's house. My dad was with us, and being the fabulous grandad that he was, he was chasing the children around, playing hide and seek, giving them 'pony' rides, and being 'the monster' (grrrr). Little Joe - in an apoplexy of excitement - had momentarily forgotten his cousin's name, and was fleeing from Grandad (not very convincingly) screaming "Get the pink one, the pink one!" This was his two year old cousin, Robyn, my brother's daughter, and even though she is now twenty-six, she is still, pretty much, the pink one.

So, Robyn is coming to stay for the weekend, and my head is happily buzzing with "the pink one is coming". She is a very lovely young woman, full of life and humour, gets on well with everybody, creative, easy-going, beautiful without knowing how much, and kind and generous. Doesn't get much better really.

I don't get to do girlie stuff much, having sons and a proper bloke for a husband. Also, we've moved around so much that every time I've got a good 'best friend' sorted, I've had to leave her behind. So Robyn is my chance to be a 'girl' for the weekend. We'll look in shops that sell stuff with frills on and I'll have someone to share that with. Can't wait. Hope my energy holds out enough, as the antibiotics are working, but slowly. At least I'm in charge of my limbs and can type today, but am happily past the contagious stage.

My real 'best friend' was my sister Caron, who died fifteen years ago. We were so close it was like having a twin. I hardly ever had to finish a sentence or explain anything, we could read each other's minds so well. Steve was always losing us when we went out anywhere, because - in the middle of talking about something else - we would both suddenly spot something interesting and veer off to look at it, while Steve carried on walking. Nothing was said, we just knew. It was lovely, it was special, and I am a privileged person because I have had that.

I thought I would miss her forever, but life is kind - my son Sam is so like her, both physically and in personality - and Robyn has her creativity, femininity, and sense of fun. She also left behind an adorable young daughter called Ruby (this year's most popular girl's name apparently - she was clearly ahead of her time). So, between the three of them, much of Caron lives on. I am lucky, indeed.

So, with an aching body but an excited heart, I'm going to clean out my guinea pigs now, because the pink one is coming and it's all good.