It's Friday! I am so happy! For some reason this has been a very long week. I am so pleased that its finally over. We are going to a memorial service this weekend for my husband's great aunt. She was 100 years old and died a few weeks ago. She was an amazing inspirational woman. She was a teacher and so obviously touched so many lives. She was one of the first women to play college basketball way back in the 20's. She even got to be in a book for that.
The biggest lesson I took from her however was to ENJOY LIFE! I didn't get to know her for much of her life, but I got to know her during what was undoubtedly one of the hardest 'seasons' of her life. She had been moved into an assissted living facility right before I met her. When I met her the first time I expected to meet a woman who was depressed (as I most likely would be after losing my independence.) But, much to my surprise, this was not the case at all. She was living in the moment and thrilled to be alive. She was so happy to have visitors and just oozed love and beauty. She was so excited to get out for lunch with us and ate her food with a vengeance! She ate her entire cheeseburger and fries. This tiny frail woman loved food! When we returned to her new 'home' she made sure to offer all of us cookies and chocolates. Up until well past 95 years of age she wrote letters regularly. Beautiful letters! She put on her makeup and did her nails daily, no matter what. She appreciated beautiful clothes and good company. She loved to tell stories, but loved to hear stories even more! I can't imagine a better symbol of a an amazing human being...she preferred listening to others over talking about herself!
She was a part of my husband's life for his first 30 years, I can only imagine the impact she had on his life. She was only a part of my life for less than 5 years, but she made a huge impact on mine. I strive to age as gracefully as she did. And to savor every aspect of life just as she did.
Aunt D., you will be missed.
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