I hate getting behind on my posts because so much has happened since the last one. The biggest thing that happened was my Great-Aunt dying. She passed away on February 2nd, and it came as a great shock to the whole family. I mean granted she wasn’t young, but she also hadn’t been sick or anything. My Gran took it very hard as she was the last remaining sister of 4, and my Great-Aunt was her younger sister. She kept saying that she couldn’t believe that she was gone and that it was supposed to have been her that went first. I came to learn that on top of their Grandmother dying, February second was also the same day that my cousins’ mother died of cancer about 10 years ago. That poor family has been through the wringer, I’m telling you! The first son Dylan was born with a birth defect that caused him to not have any thigh bones so basically his knees are around his pelvis, and he only has 3 deformed fingers on each hand. Then they adopted a son (not sure why – maybe they thought they couldn’t have anymore children, I’m really not sure). Then they had a daughter. Ashley fell out of bed at around 4 years of age and was paralyzed from the waist down. She can walk now but not without a cane and her leg is all twisted. Then of course the mother dies young leaving the children when the oldest was only a teenager. I’ve heard the saying that God only gives you what you can handle, but I can’t believe that any one family should have to go through so much.

It was a beautiful service packed into the small chapel. My Great-Uncle actually gave the eulogy. All I can say is that he is one strong man. I couldn’t get up and speak after just losing my wife of nearly 60 years! As it was my cousin mentioned a couple of days before the memorial, that he was going over to teach him how to use the washing machine! I couldn’t imagine the hole in his life now! It makes me sad just thinking about it now. It also makes me more aware of my family and how much I treasure them. I think that happens to a lot of people. That when someone close to them dies they realize just how much their family means to them. It’s sort of haunted me a bit. Especially with my Gran. She is a strong person and I don’t expect her to waste away because of her sister, but what if the last time I saw her really was the last time? You know. You have to make every visit count. And make sure you say what’s in your heart or you could be regretting not doing it when it’s too late.

Related posts:

1. To Potty Train or not to Potty Train…That is the Question
2. Mother’s Day nudge
3. First tooth
4. Happy Mother’s Day