Good morning. Today is a sad one for my family and me. My Aunt Babe — my Dad’s sister — died of cancer on Monday and today is the funeral service for which we depart soon. We’re a close family, and a large one on my Dad’s side. My Grandma Klug is 101 and still lives at home, takes care of herself, and knows more about the world than all the people I know combined. She’s the Queen Mother with almost 40 grandchildren and over a dozen great grand children. I think that one of the saddest parts of this whole thing is the fact that my Grandma actually saw one of her kids die. Of course, that happens every day…that’s life. But she’s 101 and I find the irony to be overwhelming at this time. To my Grandma, Aunt Babe was always one of the kids. She was her third daughter and what a character! My Aunt Babe was sweet and loveable, and had these little things about her that I’ll never forget. One, just for example, is that she’d always offer up a “highball” if you visited her at home (I LOVE that word — highball! You just don’t hear that word anymore unless you’re watching a Dick Van Dyke rerun or visiting with my Aunt Babe). A “highball” is a mixed drink…in her case, 7-Up and Southern Comfort. Now, I hate Southern Comfort but Aunt Babe’s highballs were a magic potion, and before you knew it everyone was glowing and laughing. Aunt Babe was cool. Always sneaking that dollar bill in your pocket or hand like nobody’s business. But what I’ll miss most about Aunt Babe is her Rudolph routine. You see, every year at Christmas we celebrate Christmas Eve at my Grandma Kluge’s house in downstate Illinois in Peru (the heart of the Illinois River valley). Far outside my Grandma’s living room window, miles away, is a radio tower with a flashing red light to warn aircraft. Well, that flashing red light was Rudolph leading Santa around town for at least the past 50 years or so…according to Aunt Babe! Fortunately for my son, Joseph, who’s almost three, he got to experience my Aunt Babe’s show…”Whoa! What’s that!?!?!? It’s RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER!!!!” And Joseph and the other little ones would jump for joy every single time. Amazing fun…
I’ve tried to think of a song to dedicate to my Aunt Babe, but I’m numb and appropriate songs escape me at this time. Perhaps something by Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby? Or Dean Martin…yeah, Dean. Aunt Babe would swing with Dean, highball and cigarette in hand…
To the Promised Land, Aunt Babe. You made me laugh. You made me smile. I love you.
Dave