Sweet Memories

This past Monday, my great aunt passed away. She has not been well for years but that just never seems to ease the shock of a loved one passing. Aunt Kay was my Gram's sister. She was a vibrant woman whose passion for life overflowed! Have you ever known a person who was such a big personality that when they left, the party seemed not as much fun?! That was Aunt Kay. You knew when she arrived and when she left. In between that time, you knew where she was from listening for the laughter. That giggle was huge! She truly made those around her smile as well.

I remember staying at my gram's house when I was younger. At that time, Aunt Kay's family lived behind my grandparents. We would walk back to their house to play with our cousins. She has 5 children. Each of us had someone we could play with there and Aunt Kay loved when stopped by. She would also really get us giggling with different things she would do, one in particular would be when she would ask us to do something and tell us if we didn't do it she going to sit on us. We would giggle thinking no adult would do such a thing. But that is where we were wrong. I remember Aunt Kay getting up from her chair and walking over to where my brother was sitting. She got herself positioned to where she had her arms supporting her on the armrest and began to sit on my brother. The look on his face was priceless. He really didn't know if she was going to do it but she did and we all laughed so hard. I don't remember what brought that on, but I remember her giggle walking back to the chair. I am pretty sure we all did what she asked after that!

I recall one particular time that Aunt Kay drove us to Chicago to see the Sears Tower with my grandma. Aunt Kay was usually the chauffeur for such trips. She was driving along when all of a sudden, she let out this horrific scream! We all were quite shocked. She had somehow gotten turned around and we were headed down a one way street in Chicago...the WRONG way. Oh my goodness, the sounds that came out of her were something I will never forget. As an adult thinking back on it, it is so funny, but as a child in that moment I am sure it was scary.

Aunt Kay was always hosting people or bringing food for events. She liked to cook and be the hostess. I think she enjoyed being needed by her family as well. When my gram passed away, it was very important to her that her family take care of the food for the dinner afterward. As always, they did a remarkable job and it was so sweet.

Aunt Kay will always be someone that I think of with a smile. That is how she would want it. I may not have had a chance in recent years to share my life with her as I would have wanted, but I am so grateful for the chance to have many sweet memories of sharing life with her as a child and teen. I never had to doubt her love for me or my family. She was a woman who spoke her mind, which in today's world of tolerance in all things, is a gift. She was a woman who loved her children and wanted to do better for them. One thing I think I got from her, the protective nature for family. I think she would have gone to the ends of the earth to protect my grandma and her other sister, her kids and husband. Thank you, Aunt Kay, so grateful for your protection of my Gram, love and laughter over the years and sweet memories.