2/13/09

Happy Valentine's Day; Memory Eternal

Great Aunt Marion

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Here’s a peek at some of my crafting, as well as at a little bouquet for my sister’s arrival. Our redbuds are just beginning to bloom; these are the only branches I could reach to snip. I’m so excited for her visit with my little nephew. We’ve had more out-of-town visitors than usual the last few months, and we’re really enjoying it. Of course, it does mean that I’m fairly absent on my own blog, as well as yours! I do miss keeping up with all of you.

This little bouquet is also serving as a small memorial of sorts. Late last night we found out that my Great Aunt Marion passed away (sister of my grandma and Uncle Louis). She became rather reclusive in the last decade or so, but I have very fond memories of visiting her in the tiny North Dakota town where she lived. She had a large old house; mourning doves were always cooing in the cottonwoods and elms outside. We didn’t have mourning doves in western South Dakota, so their sound was novel and new to me. It is a sound I will forever associate with peaceful visits to my family. Like her siblings, she was a character. Also like her siblings, she didn’t talk much about things that happened in the family many years ago, leaving many of us in the dark about things we’d really like to know more about. I’m mourning her passing. I can still hear her sweet voice with its heavy northern accent, see her sitting on her porch with a cigarette. I’m also mourning the family history that was lost with her. Lives are such mysteries to me. For how complex and rich our lives are, so often what I know about my older relatives can be summarized into a single paragraph. This seems like such an injustice to who they must have been. I wish there was a better way to hold onto the essence of who our loved ones were. For all the photographs and memories we have, they still fall short of capturing who the person completely was. No doubt this is at least a small reason for the pain of death.









8 comments:

Pres. Kathy said...

May her memory be eternal. The flowers look beautiful!

renee @ FIMBY said...

What a lovely post in memory of your aunt. And those valentine cards are just so adorable, oh my goodness. Just like you to craft gorgeous cards.

elizabeth said...

Memory Eternal. She is beautiful in this photo and the flowers very delicate and full of courage. Sorry for your loss; it is hard to lose our living history and family. Memory Eternal.

DebD said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you too! I love the flowers.

So sorry for your family's loss. Memory Eternal

Mimi said...

May her Memory be Eternal.

And, wow! Is that a sneak peek? Gorgeous.

ELK said...

love filled photos today!

Shawna said...

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that she passed. The thing I miss most about my grandparents are the stories. We have a huge oral tradition in our family that pretty much ends at my crummy memory. Sometimes I wonder which stories I have heard 1,000 times that Bella will never know.

I once sat down with my grandmother (from minot!) when I was in middle school and had her tell me her "life story". I had intended to record it but was too embarrassed to ask if she minded. Boy do I regret that now. It was such a wonderful story and I, too, miss hearing her voice.

Meadowlark Days said...

A belated thanks to all of you for your kind words about my great aunt. Your comments mean a lot.