Aunt Babe, Part Two…
Back again for a short story of one large family’s love for one another. As I mentioned first thing yesterday morning, my Aunt Babe’s funeral and service were yesterday. As sick as she was with cancer — I hadn’t seen her in about 5 weeks but my Dad and Uncle Leo said they’d never seen anyone so sick as my Aunt Babe this past weekend — she continued to fight to the very end. The cancer took everything from her physically, and of course mentally as well near the end, although she obviously fought so stubbornly hard to stay alive the past few weeks.
Yesterday I also mentioned my Grandma Klug, who’s in her 101th year and still lives at home by herself. I just can’t imagine losing a child. What one thinks of most often is that of young parents losing a young child. But to my Grandma, my Aunt Babe, Aunt Jane, Aunt Irene, and my Dad are still the “kids” and will forever be so. Yesterday was one of melancholy for me. I’d cried so many tears in the past many weeks for my Aunt Babe that what was left inside were thoughts that she’d finally met eternal life, and I tried to focus on that. Of course, it was very sad to see my cousins — my Aunt Babe’s kids Joe and Diane — and their families, and my heart hurts for them as well as for my Aunt Jane, Aunt Irene, my Dad and Grandma. A bright light did, however, shine yesterday during my cousin Aaron’s eulogy, which was one of eloquence and pure love. And yes, he too mentioned Southern Comfort as I did yesterday…at that point tears were met with smiles. I must say that Aaron’s eulogy was the best I’d ever heard — he met the challenge with courage and strength and I greatly admire him all the more for it.
My greatest fear in life is the death of those I love, so it’s something that never escapes me. As my Aunts and Uncles get older, like my in-laws, I pray for them daily — for their health and happiness. For the most part they’re all in good health, but only God knows when it’s one’s time to go. My greatest fear of all is losing my parents…it’s just something that I cannot fathom. Likewise, the mere thought of being without my loving wife, Georgia, or my beautiful son Joseph, hurts my heart just thinking about it.
In case you haven’t noticed, I’m an extremely, but genuinely, sentimental individual. And with the Grandma Klug family as close together as we all are, that in and of itself is the greatest gift I’ve ever received: Family…
Love the ones you’re with. With all you heart and soul…
Dave