My beautiful Auntie Lo was 70 on January 26, 2016. Yesterday. Forty-eight years ago she was holding me in her arms and was 22-years-old. Her baby sister, my momma, was 16.
She held me. She rocked me. She loved me as if I was a part of her – I was, and I am. She’s my aunt. The only aunt I know. She has loved me unconditionally although I live 2,000 miles away from her and haven’t seen her very much in the past few years. I will always have a bond with her – no matter the miles. It began when she held me as a newborn. It will never stop. When she holds you, magic.
Auntie Lo is an incredible woman who has lived a complex, beautiful life. Complex in that no matter what she has experienced she comes through on the other side with a fabulous smile. She fights the fire. She DOES choose to have a pity party for one and then she moves on. Sometimes she’ll move on and choose to completely ignore anyone who reaches out. But that’s because she dances her own dance. I understand that. She lives her life as she pleases. I understand that. She doesn’t need to check with anyone to see if she’s dancing the dance correctly. Um…yes. Understood. She doesn’t brood on bitterness. She knows that life has bitterness. And she’s lived it. Throughout her 70 years she has had her share.
So she chooses pink, boas, big earrings, the absolute love of dogs, nature, pictures of nature, volunteer work, church, make-up, lipstick (never forget it), hair just right, Southern charm, pink juice (wine), optimism, sarcasm, Christmas décor in every inch of her home, Facebook funnies, attachment to her cell phone, attachment to those who love her, detachment when she chooses, reattachment at a moment’s notice, always uses the upstroke to put moisturizer on her face, only uses her fourth finger to put moisturizer around her eyes, only uses cotton cloths to remove make-up, could waterski like no one’s business back in the day – and still could if only her back would give her permission, cannot boil eggs (she burns them), a lover of romance novels (should’ve been and still could be a writer), a woman who always knows what to say in a time of need – when you are at your lowest and saddest moment, and a woman who can make killer angel biscuits at Christmas time (you must ask her for her recipe). Those are just a few things that I know about my Auntie Lo. There is so much more. Beyond belief there is so much more.
She stroked my hair. She held me close. She is my Auntie Lo. The woman I love and will never ever ever forget her love – beginning 48 years ago. Happy birthday, my beautiful, gracious, Southern Belle Aunt. You are a kick-ass “Pinky Auntie Lo.” Happy happy happy, my love.
Zen-itude for today:
If you are fortunate to have an aunt or aunts, stop for a moment and think about them.
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