Annie

That Annie isn’t the cartoon character. She is the woman who wakes up tired but makes the coffee anyway. She is the mother who whispers, “Tomorrow is a new day,” not because she believes it in her bones, but because she has to say it out loud to make it true.

That can be a gift. People trust an Annie. They confess their secrets to an Annie. That Annie isn’t the cartoon character

Then there is the Annie who has weathered the storm. That can be a gift

And just between us? Tomorrow’s sun always comes out. But so what if today you just want to watch the clouds? Then there is the Annie who has weathered the storm

But Annie is also the little sister in Father of the Bride —the one with the wise-beyond-her-years smile. She is the piano bench where your aunt taught you to play chopsticks. Annie is the best friend who doesn't need to talk for three hours to know exactly what you're feeling.

Hold your name gently. It is not a demand to be sweet. It is an invitation to be real.