When Ana was first learning to talk, we weren’t sure what she should call my stepdad. Mom and Steve were just dating at that point, so “Grandpa” wasn’t yet appropriate. But we all knew the relationship was probably headed toward marriage, so “Steve” wasn’t quite right either.

While we struggled to find a name, whenever Steve dropped by the house or we went to Mom’s, we just told Ana to “say hi”. As a toddler actively learning to process and use language, Ana connected the dots and assumed this was his name. So, Steve became “Hi”, and it stuck. All the grandkids on my side of the family still call him “Hi”. It’s our Grandpa alternative.

We took a family vacation with Mom and Steve to DisneyWorld in 2002, and found ourselves separated at one point. Mom decided to take Ana to try to find the guys, but didn’t tell me that’s what she was doing. As the two of them crossed the street at the happiest place on earth, and I yelled to her, “Where are you going?”

My very traditional, responsible, professional mother, with 8yo child in hand, announced loudly to the Magic Kingdom:

“We’re gonna go get high! Do you want to come?”

75 people paused, turned to stare at her, raised an eyebrow, and spoke to each other in hushed voices. I quietly turned and made my way through and away from the crowd, trying not to draw too much attention to myself, while laughing hysterically.