My Aunt Carmen died at 12 noon today.
She is the mother of Mitch, the cousin who took Brian and me to the Reservation in Washington so he could show Brian how fun illegal fireworks are. My long time readers will remember my 2005 D R I V I N G trip with my mom to Olympia Wa for Alice and Bill’s 50th wedding anniversary, where I was updating my journal from a Blackberry and the passenger side of my mother’s car (since she never lets me drive). I should post a link to part of that story here. She is the sister-in-law to my Uncle Bill, who’s death I also wrote about two weeks ago.
She is the one who always referred to me as “Cath”.
She passed away while visiting her brother in Fallon Nevada and was surrounded by family. Brian and I were suppose to be there, but getting my vehicle fixed put the reunion on a back burner for us.
I wish I could stand on the rooftop of this world and yell to everyone just how precious this moment is – right now. This is all we ever have. We must grab on to it with both hands and ride it for every glorious second. Tell that person you love them, call that old friend, send the love note, make that call, say you are sorry, mend that fence, take a risk, try that move, forget what ‘other people might think’, and go for it.
Because tomorrow is only an illusion.
That vacation trip to Olympia changed my life, as I decided to take some rather large risks as a single mom and follow my dream to be a famous writer.
My Aunt Carmen would have said, “Cath, you go girl!”
Right now I imagine that she is laughing with my dad, Uncle Bill, Grandma, Grandpa, Papa Dick, little sister, and all the rest of my wonderful family who is having their own reunion party on the other side.
I wonder if they have bottle rockets, beer and cigarettes?
And finally the tears come-
C
http://www.aweekinthelifeofaredhead.com
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I am so sorry to hear of your loss. As I was raised in a mostly older family…I began losing family members at a young age. It is never an easy thing…especially if they have touched your life in a special way…and, what wonderful advice…I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.:)~Jackie
Sad to hear that your Aunt died. Death is final but so many people never take the time to remember this, I have faced this fact years ago and try to make each day count. I hope they have bottle rockets and Cigars on the other side , I know my Son will have the nicest time there if they do, Oh yes and Mountain Dew LOL… hugs to you and yours….
Peace!
My Dear Catherine,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I lost my favorite aunt this past January to a sudden massive heart attack and didn’t have the chance to say good bye or tell her how I felt, even though I’m sure she knew. You are so right about now being all we have. I’m glad that you and Brian got to spend some time with Aunt Carmen. Brian will always have his memories as he gets older and will never forget her and what she meant to you. Go go, Cath…
Sorry to hear of your loss. Aunt Carmen reminds me of my aunts. And it was my Aunt that had this read during her eulogy. Somehow, in this post, it seems fitting.
“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.” ~Gilda Radner
I am sorry to hear about your loss…
I am sorry to hear about your loss…
My mother survived breast cancer twice
and I am lucky to have her here…