Thursday, August 07, 2008
Aunt Jean
Unstable air tonight. On radar, a little storm cell popped out of nowhere about ten miles west, grew larger halfway across the county, crackling over the radio ballgame, but was already shrinking away by the time it dropped a small amount of rain here.
Learned that my Aunt Jean died last night at age 92, in North Carolina, quietly in her sleep. Which leaves Uncle Jack, 99. What an emptiness he must feel. Married her early in the 1940's. Aunt Jean was my mom's older sister. My sister was down there three weeks ago sorting out a deteriorating situation of two old folks who could hardly take care of themselves anymore, talked Aunt Jean into a hospital, & had intended to return there soon anyway. Hopefully, she, & Aunt Jean's grandson, made our Aunt's final weeks a little more comfortable.
Sister's matter at hand now becomes helping Uncle Jack through it so he wants to see his 100th birthday next May. Although I know few details about my Uncle, he has a will-to-live at his core that he can draw upon if he keeps hold of it. After his wife, my sister's always been his apple, since he has no daughter or granddaughter of his own. She could be decisive. Uncle Jack might not want to disappoint the plans I'm sure she has for his birthday cake.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
Learned that my Aunt Jean died last night at age 92, in North Carolina, quietly in her sleep. Which leaves Uncle Jack, 99. What an emptiness he must feel. Married her early in the 1940's. Aunt Jean was my mom's older sister. My sister was down there three weeks ago sorting out a deteriorating situation of two old folks who could hardly take care of themselves anymore, talked Aunt Jean into a hospital, & had intended to return there soon anyway. Hopefully, she, & Aunt Jean's grandson, made our Aunt's final weeks a little more comfortable.
Sister's matter at hand now becomes helping Uncle Jack through it so he wants to see his 100th birthday next May. Although I know few details about my Uncle, he has a will-to-live at his core that he can draw upon if he keeps hold of it. After his wife, my sister's always been his apple, since he has no daughter or granddaughter of his own. She could be decisive. Uncle Jack might not want to disappoint the plans I'm sure she has for his birthday cake.
Labels: growing up, obituary
