puppetmaker | RIP Aunt Mary Ann

Thursday I was informed that my Aunt Mary Ann had passed. It was not news that was unexpected, but it was still sad. She passed away after a 2nd stroke. She was working on recovering from the first one before the second one hit.

My Aunt Mary Ann travels rather back in my memory along with my cousins Jimmy and Jerry. She was a salt of the earth kind of woman. If she had grown up in the south, she would have been the prime example of a Steel Magnolia.

I loved my Aunt a lot. I really hope she knew how much she meant to me. I think she did. I think in some ways I was a little strange to her. But I do know that she knew that I loved her with my whole heart.

She was there for me on her 75th birthday for my wedding. She helped my mother get me ready for the next step in my life. I will always remember that morning. She was there in the thick of the fray of getting the bride ready for what happens next.

Our political views never matched on a good day but we still supported each other no matter what. But even with our differences, she was there for me. I still have the cross she gave me for my conformation.

I will miss her greatly. However I also know that she would not have wanted to live in a vegetative state. I know she would have found it boring. She was a very active woman who hated stagnation.

I will miss her.

I am grateful for all the times that Aunt Mary Ann was active in my life.