Connections

In the end of July two of my Aunts came to visit.  R lives in Colorado and S lives in New Hampshire and even though we're close to New Hampshire we just don't get to visit very often.  These two women are my Mom's sisters. My Mom was one of those people that made sure everyone was keeping in touch within her family. When she died, we lost some of that.  Not that we don't ever communicate - it's just that we all have our own lives and we're not as good as keeping up with each other.

So I was really thrilled when my Aunt R said she was making a trip East and was going to get S and come and stay with us for a couple of days.  It had been a long time since either one of them had seen the kids, so I was especially psyched for them to get to spend some time with Wonderboy and the Pixie, as well as the Mr. and myself.  These women are so special to me.  Not only because they are both really cool women, but also because of the connection I feel with my Mom when I am with them.  It's been twenty-six years since my Mom died, so my memories of her have dimmed a bit - relying more on pictures and stories.

But when I'm with my Aunts, I can hear her voice in their laughter.  I see the curve of her face in theirs.  I picture her, lounging on our couch after hunting through the shelves of cookbooks as R and S did - reveling in some of the Mr's and some I inherited from my Mom.  I see how she may have been with my own children - listening in that teacher's way to what they are saying and delighting in their words and actions.

It was a laid-back visit of the best kind.  One where we all got to hang out and just be with each other.  I may not always be the best about phone calls or emails, but I think they know how important they are to me.   And that in their way, they bring her back to me again.