We've missed a lot.....

15 years ago

I had lunch and tea with my Aunt today; she is the wife of my father's brother.

My Dad died when I was 10 and, although there was an effort to keep my brother and sisters involved with my Dad's side of the family , we grew apart. Never totally apart but rather into a " some weddings and all funerals" relationship.

I had such a lovely visit with her. We were getting together because she was so concerned about Sara and had made her a snuggy blanket and pillow for the cool evenings at the cottage. Also my cousin, her daughter, teaches grade 5 and the children had written get well cards for Sara.

She has had such a way to go, 5 kids, an alcoholic husband, lost all they had and now lives alone in a rented townhouse, has for 12 years. My Uncle is so bad he is in a long term care facility.

.....but she still laughs so easily, enjoys her 5 kids and 11 grands. She visits my Uncle two or three times a week, says she takes her vows very seriously even though she got dealt the sickness , poorness, and bad times, part of those vows. She doesn't do it as a martyr, not at all.

She served me egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches, cherry tomoates, carrot and celery sticks along with some pickles. Everything served up on her best china. It was lovely!

After lunch she, told me she knew this was a special birthday year for me gave me a crystal necklace and matching earrings that were my Grandmother's. I vaguely recall Nana wearing them. She told me that she had had them in her jewelery box for 28 years, without wearing them, and now it was my turn to put them in mine for 28 years! LOL

All of this to say, she was so graceful, so serene and so much fun! We laughed and laughed.

I will not let this pass, I'll do a better job of keeping in touch, my children need to know this wonderful lady and I need to know my cousins better.

Life is so short, time goes so fast. I learned a lot today and although I am so sad for all the time I have not shared with this very special person I'm happy for the times to come.

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Comments (11)

beanthere_dunthat
15 years ago
Now you've done it. I got teary.
She sounds like a sweet and thoughful person.
caliloo
15 years ago
Me too.

I have never been good at keeping in touch with people who are not part of my daily/weekly life. Your post has given me resolve to make more of an effort.

Thanks for sharing

Alexa
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dedtired
15 years ago
Wow that makes me feel bad about all the relatives, especially my dad's side, whom I barely know. My dad has one living brother who lives a few hours away from me. I think I will see if he will visit or meet for lunch.

I found a long lost cousin on the internet. I should have the guts to send an email. She sells real estate and is just lovely looking -- the spitting image of her father.
pkramer60
15 years ago
Sharon, how wonderful you connected again. I need to do that also. I have cousins here in teh states I haven't seen in years and a slew in Germany. I have always felt that we didn't have much in common, but maybe now as adults we do. I need to find out.

Aren't the older family members wonderful? full of stories and surprises. You are right, your children need to know her and her children also.

Peppi
jimtex
15 years ago
Sharon, I'm glad you got together with her. It had to be a very special time for you. You've given me a kick in the pants to make a few phone call too.
James
maggie2094
15 years ago
Chase, oh girl - you have me bawling but also so happy for you that you re-connected. Peppi, is right the older ones are so special. She sounds like a great lady!

What you said about life being too short...how true we all know but we all get so busy and time flies by when we are not looking. Your story reminds me so much of my Aunt Winnie. She doesn't live close-by anymore and she kept telling me when is she going to see the baby. She wouldn't make the Christening - she wasn't feeling well - which is not her usual. She is like an ox we all say. So, I go up Memorial Day and have the best visit with her. She has macular degeneration and shined her light right on Grace - who of course bawled her head off. We were laughing - the baby was fine. LOL She was the keeper of so many family memories and had so many stories about my mom.

She told me "Margaret, I'm getting the baby a cross - don't let anyone get one for her". She was in the hospital a week later with pain in her foot. She turned 84 on flag day - June 14th - and passed away a week later. I saw her in the hospital and she was in horrible pain. She was my great aunt - married to my nana's brother - my Uncle Freddy. She was one of a kind - a strong broad - ahead of her time and I loved her with all my heart. I hate that my children will never know her.

So - virtual hug. Hope you don't mind me sharing my story. To me life and the joy in life is all about moments like your lunch.
canarybird01
15 years ago
Sharon I think it's so true that our family and good friends are the greatest treasures we can have. And it's so necessary to keep the connections open as we can all enrich each others' lives. So easy to becomes distanced when we don't see each other very often.
And so warming to get together again to share our thoughts and memories and to keep the fabric of the family alive.

SharonCb
chancesmom
15 years ago
Another one crying here. What a lovely, thoughtful post Sharon. With our busy lives it is so easy to forget to take time for this.
So having said that......how are we going to connect next week???

Janet
annie1992
15 years ago
Chase, you are absolutely right. I have an uncle with lung cancer that I need to visit and I've been so busy with Dad that I haven't done that.

He's one of my favorites, Dad's baby brother, and hasn't even met Elery. I need to do something about that pretty darned soon.

Annie
mitchdesj
15 years ago
what a sweet story and such a good reminder to take the time, make the time, it's the greatest gift.
Gina_W
15 years ago
Oh Sharon, here I am at my brother's house in Texas with my mom, reminiscing. Life is so short and precious. Thanks for sharing your special day and thoughts with us.

We've missed a lot.....

Comments (11)

beanthere_dunthat

caliloo

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