I am very sad tonight.......

My Aunt Martha died this morning. I have only seen her a few times in the past 19 years.......due to living so far away.......but I have lots of childhood memories. Everyone loved Aunt Martha......she had this special Aunt Martha laugh......I can hear it now. I am so in shock that we can never hear her laugh again. It just breaks my heart........especially for my uncle and my two cousins. I am so sad for them. It was so completely unexpected. I am so glad that in the last few years I was able to take my children to meet her (and my uncle and cousins) on one of our trips down south.



My mind flashes like a movie, moving so fast, too fast........and I see all the places where Aunt Martha was in the picture of my life.........and the influences she had on me......on my sister, too.


......living with their family for about three months, when I was 11 years old
.....making bread dough baskets
........French dressing on salads
.......Tommy, the turtle, who hibernated in the closet, and ate the lettuce leaves
......."hot dog" dogs
.......a female cat named Charlie Brown.....who had kittens one day
......bowling with my mom, and all of us cousins hanging out in the play room at the bowling alley
......fixing my hair before school
......stability after our parents divorce (sorry, parents, its true)
.......her sweet smile
......making lunches for us for school.......and milk money
.......providing matching boy cousins for my sister and I
......going on a campout when I was about 4 years
.......her under 5-foot stature......what was she, 4'10" maybe?
........she and my uncle came to my wedding AND my college graduation
.........when I use my china, I know that at least a third of it was a wedding gift from she and my uncle
......swimming in their pool
.....playing silly games like Pigs, or whatever that was.....and lots of Milebourne :)
........the way she would say my uncle's name in that funny scolding way, when he teased
....her generosity
........her sweetness
......her kindness
......her cheerful temperment
.......her non-judgemental manners
.......the fact that after 40-some years of my life......she did not look any different than when I first remembered her


My sister will help me think of more.......she is good at that.....and I will add more as I remember.

Funny........I was looking for something in my email inbox tonight, and I found the last email my aunt sent to me:


Chari

Beautiful, but glad I'm only looking at photos! Makes me cold.

Aunt Martha

This, in reference to my snow post.

Here are some old photos........

Aunt Martha, my dad and my grandfater, her father-in-law. They were at a party.......I AM embarrassed by my father's purple shirt. 1960's.....is it obvious?

More 1960's.........Aunt Martha sitting on Santa's lap.........the santa who is really my uncle, her brother-in-law.

I was very surprised to find this photo! My sister and I are playing games with our cousins, Aunt Martha's boys. I am the one in the white blouse. We are playing Milebourne! 1970's now.....

You can see the smile on her face.......the one I well-remember

And, here is the last time I saw Aunt Martha. This includes her whole family, except one daughter-in-law and a granddaughter who was born later.........and my six kids, too. We met for breakfast after one of our Disneyland trips. I thank God we had this visit.

May God grant you eternal rest, my dear Aunt Martha.

**********************************

It is late tonight.........we had a busy day, having our annual Lebanese feast. Please pray for my Uncle and my cousins. Also for my other uncle, his younger brother, who has been diagnosed with skin cancer. And, also for my mother, their sister in the middle, who is suffering an acute bout of bursitis right now, with little pain relief..............plus some other issues. And lastly, for my almost 87 year old grandmother, who is the mama to all of these folks. Thank you, friends.

God bless you all........

~Chari~