Thursday, August 8, 2013

What Love Does

Her name was Marie, but it was easier to say Mimi when we were little. She was our favorite aunt, red haired, freckled. She loved us without conditions. She always had gum in her purse and sometimes she’d let one of us stay the night. She had two children of her own so it was an undertaking to have even one of us over.

At the time they lived in a small bungalow and I remember one overnight that lasted into the next day until mid-afternoon. That morning, after my uncle went off to work, Aunt Mimi piled her two and me into the car because she needed milk. I even remember the name of the place where she got it, Luken’s Dairy. She bought milk and then to our delight asked if we’d like Creamsicles. Boy, would we!  My mother, her older sister, never would have done that simply because she couldn’t afford it – not with seven mouths to feed. I felt like a queen as we drove away happily slurping my frozen delight. I couldn’t wait to tell my brothers and sisters and maybe gloat a little. At home that night I cried into my pillow because I missed my aunt. It was a strange kind of longing I’d never experienced before. Unconditional love does that to you even if you’re only a kid.

Aunts. What a delight they can be. Slightly like grandparents but not as old. Slightly like siblings but not in competition like a brother or sister. Aunts often come bearing gifts. Food treats and small toys or maybe a cute summer top. They treat you differently than your mom. They never tell you to go clean your room or quit hitting your brother, but ask instead about school or tell you your hair looks nice. It made the three hours preening in front of the bathroom mirror well worth it.

I have a friend whose granddaughter was just escorted through London and Paris by her aunt. A graduation gift. How cool is that? Yet another friend consistently remembers the birthdays and special celebrations of nieces and nephews who sometimes seem ungrateful. She’s absolutely wonderful to them. Another friend, never married, is the aunt dropped from heaven to her nephew. She’s helped him in every phase of his life and recently made his wedding cake. She’s extraordinarily talented with batter and frosting. My list of loving aunts is as long as my arm.

I regret that I’m not closer to my nieces and nephews. They all live on the west coast and here I am in the east, having married a sailor from New York and all. Fortunately they have aunts and uncles galore so they don’t miss whatever it is I would add to the mix. I keep up with them through Facebook and feel a little sorry for myself that I can’t be at their ballgames and dance recitals. I’m there in spirit and ask for the highlights from their grandmothers, my sisters.

My aunt Marie has been gone for many years. She died too young of a horrible disease. But I’m hoping to grab a seat next to her at the Great Banquet in heaven. I’ll remind her of how much I loved her sense of humor, her willingness to understand a dumb kid, the Juicy Fruit she shared – stuff like that. And I know I won’t have that seat long as many others will want to have a word. She’ll make room for all of us, I’m sure. ‘Cuz good aunts are like that – yeah, they are.  


Image: Stuart Miles                                                                             Free Digital Photos

13 comments:

  1. That was a nice remembrance of your Aunt Marie, Susan. For sure you will be seated near her, once again some day, probably munching creamsickles.

    How blessed we are to have memories of our loving aunts, don't you think? Susan

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    1. Oh, Susan, I couldn't agree more. I still think of Aunt Marie often and at the oddest times. My mother missed her terribly and outlived her by many years. But the memories are dear to us all. Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. Your post triggered so many happy memories for me. Thanks.

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    1. I'm glad to have been that trigger, Linda. Happy to have you here!

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  3. I LOVED this, Susan! And I love being an aunt. Since I missed out on having children and grandchildren, my nieces and nephews and great ones, too, helped me not to miss it so much. And I remember my favorite aunts ~ Aunt Gin and Aunt Florence. They were not only my aunts, but my "other" mothers and my friends as I grew older. Long gone, I cherish them still. Thanks for writing this, my friend!

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    1. I know what a dear and cherished aunt you are, Cindy. A gift from God to your nieces and nephews! When my mom and dad moved us all to California from Minnesota most of my aunts were left behind. Marie and family followed and they were frequent visitors in our home and we in theirs. Lots of memories. Hugs.

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    2. What a nice story, Susan.your Aunt Marie is likely sharing a beer and some lefse at that Great Banquet with my Aunt Gwen wHo I loved. The two cousins were once inseparable. Very nice and heartwarmed is how your story left me. Well said.

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  4. A good reminder about the power aunts have in the lives of their families. Thank you for that.

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    1. By all accounts you are a wonderful aunt, Rhonda. At least the ones I know about. =0) Glad you stopped by!

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  5. My mother had 2 sisters. One aunt never married, the other did. I was always close to the unmarried aunt. But in later years, I took over being like a daughter to the other one.

    I loved being aunt to my brothers' kids - the kids I never had. Love em, spoil, and let mammy take 'em home and put 'em to bed.

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    1. So many good traits are inherited by children through their aunts. Don't you think, Marion? Thanks for commenting.

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  6. Tergetkan Adriano Inter Milan to Europe
    Trusted Sport-New reported, former Shakhtar Donetsk Luiz Adriano who has just joined AC Milan, will re-use No. 9. Adriano also expressed readiness to deliver the Rossoneri back into the Champions League.
    The 28-year anchored to the San Siro after redeemed at a price of 5.60 million pounds of Russian club. The new team, Adriano is not afraid to choose the number 9 had ever worn by Fernando Torres, where this number can make barren striker.
    "Is there a curse on my years at Milan's number 9? Yes, but I do not care about that." said Adriano. "Jersey number 9 has incredible charisma and now is the time to re-scored." he added.
    The Brazilian was admitted to not why although in the first season will miss the Champions League. "I will miss the Champions League? Of course, but I will play with Milan next year."

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  7. Lemme tella youse what love does...

    If 'freedom lies in being bold' -Robert Frost, doesn't pushing-the-envelope to reach the Elysian Fields?

    If I'm the sower, we plant the Seed; if I'm an artist, we RITE the symphonies heard Upstairs ☆IF☆ you accept His lead withe orchestra...

    Wanna find-out the fax, Jak, in a wurld fulla the 'power of cowards'? Wanna wiseabove to help a 'Plethora Of Wurdz' [POW!] which are look'n for a new home in thy novelty??

    Q: But [gulp] can anyone tell me the difference between K2/IQ? A: Nthn. In Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HA! Need a few more thots, ideers, wild wurdz (whoa, Nelly! easy, girl!) or ironclad iconoclasms?

    VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI (Latin: words to [the] wise): As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go thro in this lifelong demise, I just wanna help U.S. git past the ping-pong-politics, the whorizontal more!ass! we're in...

    "This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

    I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET!! any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, low-hanging-fruit of the Celestial Paradise, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (aww! baby kitties, too!!) when my o-so-beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires...

    "Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3, NJB

    Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

    Go gitt'm, girl. You're incredible. See you Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty #@!! Abyss where Isis prowls
    thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
    infowars.com
    -YOUTHwitheTRUTH
    -------------------------------
    PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

    Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptooh, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redding Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, -blessed b9... (mixNmatch)

    God blessa youse
    (trustNjesus)
    -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL

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