New Year, Same Pretty

It is only day two, but so far this year, I have made some accomplishments:

I finished a project I started last year (ok, on December 29th, which was last year), a pair of birthday gloves. 

I cleaned out a closet. (I know, it is still cluttered...you'll have to trust me that it is better, or ask one of my kids!) 

And I went through some old photos, uncovering this gem (which you may already have seen on Facebook or IG).

The latter was prompted by the recent loss of my mom's sister, my Aunt Mickey. 

My mom and her sisters were like those little monkeys you sometimes see in figurines depicting "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." When they were together, they had a lot of fun! Sometimes they kept each other out of trouble (I think my mom may have been the biggest troublemaker...), and I am sure that sometimes they spurred one another into mischief!

Through it all, they leaned on one another...even when they weren't always happy with each other. Their sisterhood, both literal and figurative, is what sisterhood should be. I can only imagine the heart-voids my mom and her older sister are experiencing, and I feel it too.

As I grieve with my mom and aunt, my uncle, and my cousins, I remember most that my Aunt Mickey always made me smile! A few years back, for my 50th birthday, she sent me a singing card that proclaimed "50's the New 40! At least it is on you!," and that card made my whole year! 

I remember calling my aunt to check in, while she was recovering from some procedure or other, and she lifted my spirits and told me how much she loved seeing photos of my grandchildren on Facebook. 

I remember the birthdays that were made special by a "16 box" or a "21 box," I can visualize her eyes lighting up as she counted out 16 band-aids or 21 q-tips to include.

I remember once going with her to a wedding, she had made the cake, which was "drooping" in the heat of that summer day. In the lobby of the church, I watched her stuff styrofoam plates into one of the layers to level it, then frosting over the fix and attaching sugar flowers she had made from royal icing to finish the repair. I also remember that we left that wedding long before the cake was cut! 

I remember spending a week with my cousin Mary (her only daughter, Mary had 3 brothers) at Aunt Mickey's tiny house in the summer...I was 12 or 13. One day, it was my turn to take out the trash, and I did not know how to do that. It wasn't a chore I did at home, and I was literally clueless as to how and where to take that trash bag out! She was gentle (through her laughter), and she taught me a new thing. 

My Aunt Mickey taught people to laugh by laughing...I rarely saw her without a smile close at hand.  She taught people to love by loving them well...I never have to look far to see many who were loved by her, even in their less-than-lovable moments (myself included). She taught us to cook and to bake, and she has children, grandchildren and other relatives (like me!) who will do our best to be sure her recipes go on, and that our families are loved through taste-buds and tummies as well as hearts. 

It is hard to start this new year in the knowledge that I will not see her smile again, except in pictures, so I am going to keep looking at the pictures. I will not taste her cooking, except when I follow her recipes, so I will keep cooking. I will not hear her encouragement, except in my memories, but I can keep encouraging others. 

Uncle Bill, Billy, David, Mary and Jimmy, spouses and kiddos and significant friends and family, I am so sorry for your loss, but I know she would not want us to dwell. As we grieve, let's also do all we can to spread the joy she has left behind...and let's make 2021 a good year! 

Live, Laugh and Love well, like Aunt Mickey did.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!