My Mother had two sisters, she was the middle child. (She had that middle child mentality too). My Mother was definitely different than her sisters. All three had a strong will about them, we called it the Barfield effect.
Adoration of a child is the best way I can describe my feelings for my aunts. I cannot write about one without writing about them both. Beautiful is the best way I can describe them. Both would argue about that. In my grandparent’s house was a wall of pictures. It was their family, not including spouses or their children, those were on another wall. For years I thought the picture on the top was a movie star. It was a beauty with blonde hair and she was looking over her shoulder like a movie star. I finally asked my Mom who it was, her answer blew me away. It was my Aunt, Joey.
JoAnn. That name brings about a kind of warm settling in my heart. She is one that you can trust with most any secret. She is all about caring and loving on family. You can call her and say you need her, she will be there. My Mother made fun of her cooking (but she made fun of most people’s cooking) and my Daddy teased her about her age (they were the same age, except she was a few months older). Both loved her, my Dad would have been lost without her during my Mom’s last year. I do not think I would have been able to move past their passing without her.
Sallye. How do I talk about this beauty? She was the older sister of me & my brother. When she came to visit, it was always fun. Warm and funny, poor timing in horror stories, come to mind. She told a scary story, to this day closed closet doors wig me out. My brother & I slept with our closet doors open for a month after her story. She would come and visit us when we were younger at Christmas. Favorite memory is our dog leaping into bed with her, us right behind him yelling it is Christmas. Her response, “Ugh”. (We were up at 6, but my parents made us wait until 8 to allow her to sleep.). She taught me to do my nails. I have a picture of her when she graduated, so young and so beautiful. She has a sense of humor that is a delight. She and Joey dressed up as Christmas trees and visited my Mom. My Mom called me in tears of laughter to tell me about my crazy aunts.
I know my crazy aunts and obviously love them. I consider them a gift. Without them, I would not be the same. Without them, I would not have the cousins I have that I am close to. I do not like to think about being without them, but I must. Age has a lot to do with that. I am now of the age that my childhood heroes start dying. It is not comforting to think about. But it is the way it is and has always been. We all must die. I take comfort in knowing that I will be reunited with the loved ones I have lost that believe in Christ as their Savior. I look forward to that celebration day.
It is a blessing to reminisce, there is something about thinking of loved ones that I find peaceful. I hope you don’t mind me sharing about my family. Distance may separate the physical presence, but my heart is never far from theirs. The memories I share with them are treasures, more precious than any earthly item. How do you think of your family? Do you dwell on the bad times or find the joyful memories among the bad? I can tell you from experience, discard the bad while you can, love on the people in your life now, because there is no promise of tomorrow.
John 16:22 “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”