Monday, August 1, 2011

Family

I think in my last post, I had just returned from visiting some of my precious family in Pennsylvania. I was feeling poorly, and perhaps complaining just a teensy bit.


I'm happy to report that I am finally feeling fit as a fiddle. The last of my ailments was my poor aching tooth. I finally ended up with a root canal which was a tremendous relief. Today I had the permanent filling and it is almost perfect.



I've wanted to write about my aunts since my visit to Pennsylvania, but am still not completely in the groove of posting here. Anyway, about my aunts....and my cousin.


My dad was one of ten children: Tommy, Mildred, Dorothy, Norman, Elsie, Mary, Francis (my dad), Margaret, Edward and Betty. They are all deceased except for my Aunt Mary who is 91 years old and amazingly sharp. A few years back, she was on a step ladder washing her windows when she fell and injured her back. The result of that fall was that she went to live in a lovely adult care facility.




My dad's youngest sister, my Aunt Bets, is 82. She and I have so much fun together. Spending time with her is a joy to me. She was a talented seamstress, musician and artist. She has lost most of her sight and is no longer able to quilt and paint like she once did, but she doesn't let that keep her from having fun. I am so honored to have some of her quilts and paintings in my home. She is not only my aunt, but also my dear friend.


So those are my two surviving aunts. My cousin, Sally, is ten years older than me and was my idol when I was a young girl. She is still a beautiful woman and being around her makes me happy. Sally has been a widow for two years now, but lives near her children who adore her and try to take care of her....sometimes to her dismay. You can tell by her picture that she is still a bit of an imp.
.


I love and enjoy these women. Sadly, I only see them, at the most, twice a year. And there were years where I was so involved in raising my own children and spending time with my immediate family that I didn't see much of them at all.


Last summer my cousin, Sandy, who is next oldest to me, passed away suddenly. She had just retired from the full time Methodist ministry and had only spent one night in her new home before she died.


My own brother and sister, both younger than me, are also gone. Now more than ever, my extended family is precious to me. So, whenever possible, I love to get together with these beautiful ladies and go to lunch. We always have a good time together. My Aunt Mary and Sally both love potato pancakes, so often we go to a little local bakery where they serve potato pancakes.


Being with these ladies brings back so many wonderful memories of my childhood; family picnics, Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations, Christmas, Thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have had the privilege of growing up as part of a large, loving family.


I love you guys.


~Hippo Hugs~


"Where can a person be better


than in the bosom of their family."


~Marmontel Gretry~


6 comments:

Lynilu said...

The hardest part of aging is seeing our families, the part we've had our whole lives, shrinking. Thank goodness for the younger family member who come to carry the memories forward. :') Bittersweet.

Sharon said...

It is wonderful for you to be able to keep in touch with the older members of your family.
They are such beautiful women.
Hugs

Dagmar said...

Welcome back..lovely to see your clan doing so well! Happy August!
ox

Midlife Mom said...

What a lovely post! Family is so important! I haven't lost any of my siblings but have lost grandparents and aunts and uncles. I miss them and wish I had spent more time with them. I did grow up just up the road from my grandparents on my fathers side so saw them a lot but my mother's parents lived about 45 minutes away and back then it seemed like such a long way! We did get over there lots of Sunday afternoons which was nice. I am so glad my grands live so close by and that I can be a hands on grammie. I know they will remember all the wonderful times we have and all the foolish things that we do like having marshmallow fights on the back deck and whipped cream fights! ha!
Yes your cousin Sally looks like she would be an imp and a lot of fun, she has that twinkle in her eyes.

Glad you are back blogging again, I miss you! xoxox

Dagmar said...

Hi Pam,Just thought I would see where you are..I have missed your comments and am hoping you are well! ❤
Dagmar

Dagmar said...

Hi Pam,Just thought I would see where you are..I have missed your comments and am hoping you are well! ❤
Dagmar