I wanna go like that . . . .

[TexasTimbers]

We attended our annual family reunion yesterday, and we always recognize the person/s who traveled the farthest, is the youngest, the oldest etc. At the fierst one ever held in 1936 my dad was the youngest, at 5 or 6 months something like that.

The past several years, his dad's sister has been the oldest. Born December 24th, 1906 she has held the honor for a while. She was there yesterday, sharp as a tack. Cooked her own breakfast yesterday morning, and would have tried to drive herself too if we didn't keep the keys hid all the time.

She laughed and joked and told stories of the old days like she always does when she has an ear, and she always has an ear at our reunions. Young and old alike never tire of her stories, and her memory was incredible. She was planning her 102nd birthday party already and telling us what songs she wanted sang and what she wanted for her birthday dinner, and what kind of cake.

She wanted ice cream cake. She had never had any of that until last year when my daughter Abby, brought her some after her own birthday party that Aunt Lilly was unable to attend. She was ahaving a bad day that day. They were rare for her at even that ripe old age, but she never complained. She *never* complained about anything.

She passed last night, by all accounts peacefully . She was a matriarch in our family and we all figured she would make the 110 like she said she would since she was in her early 90s.

Shoot for the stars and land on the moon. You won't see any tears out of this old boy. She wouldn't have it. She'd take a switch to me if she caught me. 

She had a great day yesterday and told us all how much she loved us, and we her. Then dad took her home where she watched HER Cowboys win the season opener, went to bed, and woke up in heaven. I wanna go like that.


I need to edit this I guess, as I didn't proof it very well. When I said she passed peacefully "by all accounts" that sounds a little impersonal to me as I re-read it, but I didn't mean it that way.  I was just sparing a little detail I thought best to leave out. We are a small community and those of you who live in them who have gone through this probably know what I mean.

[Brad_S.]

A life well lived. May she rest in peace. Sorry to hear of her passing but agree that if we must go, that's the way to do it.

[Dave Shepard]

A well rounded last day for sure. Please accept my condolences.


Dave

[beenthere]

May she rest in peace..

[Radar67]

Our condolences TT. Wonder if she knew time was drawing near and wanted to see everyone else one last time?

[ellmoe]

TT, sounds like a great woman that had a great life. I'm proud for ya. God bless her soul.

Mark

[sawguy21]

She sounds like my grandpa's oldest brother. He went to a family re union, had a look at the family farm and dropped at 95. He had done everything he wanted to do. May she rest in peace, she had a long and good life surrounded by those who loved her. You are fortunate to have been a part of that.

[DanG]

What a bittersweet and beautiful story, TT!  I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost your Aunt.  As I was reading your post, I was envisioning memories of our annual family reunions, where all my Great Aunts and Uncles swept their respective clans into a pile and ate unGodly amounts of the best food that was ever prepared.  In the brief moment it took to read your report, I saw the gathering at Aunt Ruth and Uncle John's farm, then the one at Uncle Ed and Aunt Mildred's home, and the one at Aunt Dody and Uncle Ralph's place, and the one at my Grandparent's farm, where Uncle Ed greeted everybody with a joy buzzer in his hand and then put a fake fly on Aunt Jenny's cake.  There were nine of those siblings, who alternated hosting the reunions, in order of age.  All of them are gone now, the youngest being the last to enter into rest at the age of ninety-two a few years back.

Thank you for sharing your Aunt's graceful passing with us.  I don't know why this struck such a chord with me, but it just did.  I wish that I could say that some of my ancestors had live or died with such dignity, but I'd be lieing if I did.  Cherish the memory.

[Warbird]

TT, I'm sorry to hear of her passing but am happy to know she is with the Lord now.  The beautiful story you shared with us shows she lived a full life that was filled with love.  God bless you and your entire family.

[crtreedude]

Really nice to hear that story. She lived her life and it sounds like it was a good one.

[thecfarm]

Lucky her to live a good life.I see people who suffer for years before they pass on.It's good to her of someone like that.But it's still sad to hear of her story.

[Norm]

A great story to memorialize a great lady. Thanks for sharing her with us TT.

[ely]

yes sir its stories like that that are worthwhile, my prayers for the family, you all sound blessed to have her.

[scsmith42]

Kevin, that's a great story and you worded it wonderfully.  Your aunt really sounds like a neat person.  I agree with you - a great way to go after a long and fulfilling life.

Scott

[TexasTimbers]

Thank you all so much for your kind words. I'm glad it brought back good memories for you Dan, Sawguy, and for any others it may have as well.

My mom is retired now but ran her own beauty shop for around 30 years, so she gets the fortunate, or unfortunate honor or duty, of doing our family's hair when someone passes. She is doing Aunt Lilly's hair right now and my wife is with her. We all encourage her everytime someone passes that it isn't necessary and she should allow someone else to do it, but she always insists. The only one that was really hard on her was my grandma, on my dad's side. She was closer to Johnnie Margaret (her real name and what all the adults called her) than anyone. She was my mom's real mom much more so than her own mom was.

But my mom is from strong stock and she is always glad she did it. I better not get started telling my mom's story I'll write a book. There is a woman to look up to. Anyhow I just wanted to say thanks to you all. I don't normally share my personal life like this very much here but for whatever reason I felt the need to, and wanted you all to know I sincerely appreciate the warm sentiments you shared. Kevin.

[OneWithWood]

Your aunt was a class act, Kevin.  Your telling of her story is too.