Presence through presents

I miss my niece and nephew every day; they're amazing little people and they make me happy. We speak on video chats each week and I enjoy that time, short though it is, and it's of great value but I still miss them every day and feel like I'm missing out on an important part of their lives; their formative years.

They like different things from each other and some the same, like Lego, and with Lego having been part of my own childhood, and something I still enjoy, we have that in common. We talk about it on video chats and show each other the things we've built and I love their creativity, the way something so simple as a few Lego bricks can inspire so much innovation, enjoyment and connection between us despite the many thousands of kilometres that separate us.

They both have birthdays coming up shortly, seven for my niece @smallsteps and five for my nephew @mrbonkers and I'll be sending something to each.

I bought the Lego set in this post for my nephew and I know he'll love it...because its Lego, and also because he loves anything to do with the police, trucks, quad bikes, tractors, trailers...you get the idea. I asked him what he wanted the other day and he said a drone; he means a real one. He's not getting one of those though. He then suggested a Lego drone but there is no such thing; I'll give him points for trying though. He made some other suggestions and then thought about it some more and said, uncle, you know I'll love anything you get me but I really just want you to come here.

I wish I could, but it's not possible for a variety of reasons right now, but hearing him say that melted my heart and made me feel so sad that I can't be there.

I spoke to my niece in Finland that same day but she was in the car off for a daddy-smallsteps date for sushi with my brother @tarazkp so we didn't discuss her birthday. I'm probably going to ship something on Amazon though, sending things in the mail to Finland is problematic as my brother has to pay additional taxes. I'll scout around on Amazon and am sure I'll find something good for her...I'd like to ship myself there, but Lego might have to do for now.

I've recently had some bad news from a health perspective that means I'll not likely have a full lifespan, whatever that actually is, and it hammered home the time I'm missing in the lives of my niece and nephew. I'm not one to waste time (life) but they're so far away it's not as simple as driving for a few hours to see them. I'll be there in spirit when they open their Lego birthday presents though I guess, and we'll get to build Lego together via video chats and that's something special I think.

I have amazingly good memories of playing with Lego as a kid with my three brothers and looking back now I can see how creativity came out in different ways in each of us. We didn't have Lego sets like I'll send to my niece and nephew, our parents couldn't afford them and what we had was second hand but that didn't diminish the enjoyment or the memories looking back now all those years later...Lego links my past to the present and is a connection to those little people who will carry my family into the future; even though I'd rather be there for them in person I like to think my presence through presents means something to them now and will moving forward.