Let me introduce you to someone I'd like to meet

Strike recently started playing softball w/ a new local team & we're slowly getting to know the girls & parents better. One family I've seen in softball circles before but never really knew them. They have a little girl, Nicki, (probably 9 or 10 years old) who has Downs Syndrome. I remember a few years back I saw Nicki picking dandilions under the bleachers while others were watching the game. Precious. I also remember tears stinging as I watched her interacting w/ her family. Just sweet. Whenever I see anyone who has Downs Syndrome it reminds me of my little brother, Byron, who had it too. Long story short, Strike now plays on the same team as Nicki's older sister - so we're seeing a lot more of them. Nicki loves to sit on the bench w/ the team & she'll cheer for anyone who is up to bat (it doesn't matter what team they're on :) She does SO MANY things that remind me of Byron. She has many of the same little quirks & mannerisms. I gather she can be very stubborn & rather clumsy & she is absolutely adorable! This weekend she had two little purses that she carries "treasures" in. Byron had a backpack that he used for the same purpose. She swears (used the "d***" word on the bench when Strike did something that annoyed her) & Byron did that too. Not sure where he picked that up - but he did. She mumbles. Byron did too. He would mumble a whole sentence & only pronounce the last word/words well enough to understand. She peed her pants on the bench - & my brother would do that too! That was tough to deal with ... embarrassing/frustrating - but seeing her do it, just brought memories flooding back (pun intended :) .

It's strange ... feeling like I know someone I've never met, so well. I haven't mustered up the courage to actually talk to her parents yet bc I'm quite certain that the dam will break & tears will come flooding out & it will just be really awkward - but I want to!