I'm not a godparent, but I've had the benefit of a godmother, my aunt, who came into my life after the death of my parents in an accident when I was 16. She was sort of a distant figure, until my world changed. She lived far away from me, in Costa Rica, and I was away at school, but she phoned weekly and sent me airline tickets to her home for every holiday. She was very loving and made me feel that I wasn't truly alone. She died last year. When I think of my parents I think of her as well, kind of in the same breath, you know?