A Passing

I am very lucky. I have always considered myself that, especially when it comes to family. It's not hard to see that I am blessed in this area, if you just take a quick look inside my family life.

I'm talking right now, in particular, about my father's side of the family, although I am equally as lucky to have my mother's side. Along with my unquestionably crazy grandmother, who I speak of often, are her four slightly less crazy sisters. Making them my great aunts. Most people I know, know of their great aunts and see them at large family functions, but don't know them as close members of the family. In the case of my family that couldn't be more untrue. I was lucky enough to grow up with what seemed liked five paternal grandmothers. Each of them extremely loving, caring, and generous to all us kids.

Early this morning one of my great aunts, a very fitting name for them, passed away. The first of the bunch. A family surely blessed with longevity, we can't say she didn't live a full life, falling just short of her 90th birthday. No family or holiday memory is complete without envisioning all of The Aunts. They are certainly what has made our family so strong and close. They embodied the definition family and allowed all that followed them to see how important family truly is. 

As Aunt Nicky's life wore down, we are able to find some comfort in knowing that she is not suffering and in a better place now. Her kind heart that put everyone else first will be missed. Some of my favorite memories as a child were going to The Aunts place on Thursday nights for dinner. Aunt Nicky would prepare a feast of macaroni, sauce, roast beef, bread, salad, and anything else imaginable. Every Thursday evening was spent around the table with more food than we could eat in the entire week, bickering, and lots of laughs. And, as my father said, it was very fitting for Aunt Nicky to leave us on a Thursday. 

Those are the memories I will continue to keep close to me and think back on with a smile. Those are the memories that make me awfully lucky to have the slightly crazy, but perfectly loving family that I do have. Now, we can just pray that Aunt Nicky is being taken care of the way she has always taken care of everyone else.