Hannie the whale, no offense.

Once upon a time, Hanna Jane and I went to Mexico, took a boat ride, snapped some pictures, were entertained by the crew, put on wet suits, lathered sunscreen on, and then ...

BOOM!!!!!!

... a huge humpback whale breached out of the water!!! The huge animal just threw itself out of the sea! After a few blissful moments of massive weight defying gravity its tail finished the dive. We then saw it shoot water out of its spout, a bow to acknowledge the passengers encore and applause. It was amazing! I feel so connected to that whale, so inspired and so proud to have witnessed such an event! And to think I didn't even know the whales name!?


This is the way I feel towards my adorable, incredible, wonderful, phenomenal, spectacular, extraordinary, precious sister Hanna Jane and her performance as Annie at the Centerpoint Legacy Theater that closed last night.

I was so fortunate to watch her three times! She got better and better every night. Her loud voice, her dimpled smile, her uncanny resemblance to the optimistic orphan Annie, her courage, her consistency and the love she shared with the audience and other member of the cast on stage was absolutely inspiring to me.

Everytime Hanna sings "Tomorrow" with her big smile and clear sound tears come to my eyes as I think of the truth of the lyrics, "the sun will come out tomorrow" and contemplate what a stellar and sweet person Hanna Jane is and that she's my sister is. "When I'm stuck with a day that's gray and lonely, I just stick out my chin and grin and say"...where's my Hanna Jane? She makes me so happy and so proud. I could not ask for a better little sister, she is perfect. "I don't need anything but [her]."

The way your performance brought so many members of our family and extended family together has been such a blessing in my life over the past month. Seeing Grandma and Grandpa Gemperline, Granny and Al, The Whites, Grandma's cousins, Joe and Jan, and so many others was so fun! We wouldn't all get to see each other so much if you didn't give us an excuse to get together and celebrate!

Here's to you H"annie" Jane! You mc"Grew" so much! Duh! ;) and taught me so much too! I cannot wait to see what you will accomplish next. Thank you letting me be involved and giving all you had on stage for me and for everyone else. Many people's lives have been touched and I know my life has been changed. I love you!