~Audrey Hepburn
Pink...the favorite color of my Aunt El, who passed away Monday, January 24, 2011. Who knew? I didn't. But now that my Mom talks about it, she says one of her older sisters remembers my Aunt El at one time having pink appliances in her kitchen as a newlywed. Can't say as I've ever thought of pink in quite that tone of decorating style, but who am I to judge? My kitchen walls are pink and my kitchen valances are pink/green plaid. Maybe there is a little of my Aunt El in me...hopefully so...
You see, my Aunt was a wonderful lady. Eldest of seven kids to my grandparents. Seven. Count em' - six sisters (a set of twins in the mix) and one brother. Wow. Seven kids. And I wonder now why my parents stopped with just me...ha!
My Aunt was many things to many people. She was first and foremost the lady I sent pictures to of my children for all occasions. Albeit, the pictures had to be sent to my grandmother's home for my Aunt to receive them, but she enjoyed keeping up with my children. My Aunt always asked about my kids. She was always interested.
My Aunt was an events director at a local nursing home in her town. She was quite the person to know, as the residents all loved her. And, I think she loved each of them, too. She derived pleasure out of her job (from what my Mom said), and she was doing something for others, which is the type of person we all should strive to be throughout our lives.
My Aunt made the best coconut cakes known to man. Those cakes were wonderful additions to the holiday gatherings at my grandparents' home. I remember going out to my grandparents' back porch (where the casket freezer stored everything extra that wouldn't fit in the kitchen freezer), surveying the goodies all the family members had prepared, and being drawn to those coconut cakes. I have no idea why as I'm not a huge fan of coconut. But, let me tell you, my Aunt's cakes would turn you onto coconut in a heartbeat!
Lastly, my Aunt was a survivor. She survived an abusive spouse. She survived breast cancer. She survived many years with Parkinson's. However, the look on my Mom's face the last trip to visit told me that my Aunt was not surviving Parkinson's and dementia in the nursing home facility where she lived out the remainder of her days. Funny how she could battle and win against an asshole that beat her and "the big C", but a couple of other diseases pile on and at age 79, she passes on to heaven. But, you know, after the life she endured here on earth, she was welcomed into heaven with open arms.
So, I will not remember my Aunt sadly. Nor, will I give her 'louse of a spouse' the satisfaction of remembering her based upon his atrocities. I will remember my Aunt based on the words of Audrey Hepburn:
Aunt El loved the color pink. Aunt El had a funny laugh (almost a cackle, but when she smiled, you could tell whose sister she was - she and my Mom look alike somewhat). Aunt El was strong; even when everything seemed to be going wrong in her life. Aunt El was a 'pretty girl' because she had that smile, that laugh, and that kindness about her that made the folks she worked with at the nursing home love her.
And me? Well, I believe that tomorrow IS another day. And I believe in miracles. The miracle of a strong, resilient, loving woman making it through life against odds to be welcomed as the newest angel in heaven.
I Love You, Aunt El. May you be remembered for the wonderful aunt, sister, and human being you were; and may the negatives of your life be small blips 'between the dashes'.
