[caption id="attachment_4180" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Linda works on the garden with Betsy and Mike."]
Monday, October 3, 2011
Great Ants!
Were you afraid my house had been taken over by ants? In the midwest we pronounce "aunts" like the insect, "ants". I have often commented how our children have spectacular aunts and uncles, not a mean or crazy one in the bunch. Which started me pondering my own aunts, following are some of the highlights...
[caption id="attachment_4180" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Linda works on the garden with Betsy and Mike."]
Suzanne and my mom. 1. Aunt Suzanne
[caption id="attachment_4180" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Linda works on the garden with Betsy and Mike."]
I mentioned recently my mom's sister, my aunt Suzanne. She lives in Memphis, near my sister. She is a great lover of books (as am I). Once upon a time, she was a librarian. Which means I should be afraid of her, because of my irrational fear of librarians, but I'm (mostly) not. Suzanne is a great gift-giver. I mean really really good. She will send something quirky or sentimental and always just right on. Whatever she sends makes me feel as if she really gets ME, that is the true gift. Whenever I've made requests--for photos (for the Wall of Love) or poems or songs (for Love and Snuggles when Ellie was undergoing chemotherapy), Suzanne is almost always one of the first to respond. When we visited Memphis, Suzanne made a special effort to connect with Ellie. As you well know, anyone who "got" Ellie has an extra special spot in my heart.
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2. My Aunt Linda.
When Susan and I were maybe 10 and 11, we took a trip to Tipton, Oklahoma. The thing I recall about that trip is Linda teaching us cheerleading maneavers. That's just the kind of aunt she is. When I moved into my first apartment, Linda stepped up and sent me boxes of housewarming supplies--towels (some of which I still have!!), sheets, pots, pans. It was so fantastically helpful. This past year, she has offered numerous times to fly in just to give me a hug. During Ellie's final days she sent me an e-mail proclaiming she would do whatever
[caption id="attachment_4183" align="alignright" width="300" caption="See if you can locate Linda in Prawnee."][/caption]
I needed her to do. And I knew for certain she meant it. She attended not only the After Party in Ellie's honor, but the burial. When she arrived in Prawnee (where we were burying Ellie) with a carload of beautiful flowers, all in Ellie's favorite colors (red, orange, yellow, green, purple, pink). Then she stayed out in the hot Tennessee heat planting a heart shaped memorial garden before she drove back to Virginia. When we needed crayons, she had her entire school district collect crayons at the end of the school year. I think she ended up sending us 6 big boxes, a lifesaver during our numerous hospital stays throughout Ellie's last year.
3. My GREAT Aunt Glenna.
If I am privileged enough to live 8 decades, I will strive to be just like Glenna. Although she is in her 80s, she is somehow technically savvy enough to read every blog I've written. Even though we have not seen eachother in decades, she ordered many many huggle snuggles when the Huggle Snuggle shop was open (its still out there through www.njoybooks.com). She sent Ben lots of packages filled with stickers and papers for him to create art. And she has sent me numerous e-mails of love and encouragement and support. The last package had a note that said "You're the best kid."
These women have known me my whole life, which seems like yet another great gift (and sometimes a curse considering those awkward teen years I'd much prefer to forget.) They are my role models for "aunting". I am filled with appreciation for how they have enriched my life and supported me from afar.
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