We are defined by our relationships. From seven-second meetings with strangers to lifelong bonds among family members, relationships nurture us, challenge us, and teach us not to take ourselves so seriously. Seedlings: Stories of Relationships pays tribute to those connections, honoring the friends, neighbors, spouses, coworkers, siblings, and passing acquaintances who bring meaning to our lives. You'll meet: -- Big Al, who has to enlist the help of an ex-lover when he's imprisoned by childproof locks. -- Catherine the dental hygienist, who eases her patients' anxiety through humor and flattery. -- Three-year-old Casey, who proposes a noble sacrifice that will allow her to spend more time with her daddy. Some of the stories in this collection are fictionalized; others recount real-life happenings just as they occurred. All serve as entertaining reminders to treasure the people who share our journeys.