Nancy

I came across this photo today. It was taken in 1992 in Manhattan Beach, California when I lived there. The story of the little girl is an interesting one that I haven't thought about in years.

During my time in LA I did several volunteer roles, including two evenings a week at a care house for an organization, Caring for Babies with AIDS. These babies were wards of the state when their mothers were too sick to take care of them. The group had nurses and other staff to look after the children. It was the volunteers' jobs to socialize and play with the children. The location of the house was highly confidential but we always had Hollywood celebrities dropping by.

This little girl was Nancy and she captured my heart. She and I watched the video, Beauty and the Beast, over and over together. Her mother was very ill but the prognosis for her was uncertain. Children did not automatically contract AIDS from their mothers.

I gave serious considerations about adopting Nancy. I knew it would be a long shot and had no idea what I would be in for as a single parent. Naive as always! I backed down from the idea shortly thereafter and six months later I was en route to a new life in Japan.

Seeing this photo makes me wonder, "what if" and where she is now. I am sure my life would have been very different but I would have enjoyed the challenge.