Rest In Peace Aunt Jean

     One of the things about getting older is that it happens to every one. Every day that I get older so do my grandchildren, so do my friends and family, ageing is a consequence of life. The sad part of ageing is that at some point it comes to an end, you reach a time when you can go no further, your job here on earth is done - it's time to leave. For some of us the end comes sooner than we thought it would or would have liked, others of us are like that bunny in the energizer commercial that just keeps on going and going.
     I am the oldest in my family, the oldest grandson on one side, the oldest grandchild on the other. My memories go back a long way and include a multitude of family members who have passed on. I have reached a stage in my life where people I cared for are only memories and people I care for now could very well soon become memories, it is a fact of life.
     I grew up in a family that was close, actually I grew up in three close families, my own parents and four siblings, my fathers parents and his siblings and their families, likewise for my mothers family. We gathered sometimes on a weekly basis, I grew up with cousins, aunts and uncles galore.
     I can't say that I had a favorite cousin or aunt or uncle but I think I can say that I was closer to some than others. As for my aunts and uncles I loved them all and enjoyed seeing them whenever possible. Some were mysterious because I didn't see them as often due to their work or that they lived far away, some were fun to be around and some were simply likable people. For some of my aunts and uncles I invoked a special memory of a happy period in their lives. Sadly out of nine aunts and uncles and their spouses there remain only three.
     Uncle Henry Warren was married to Mom's youngest sister Sarah who was not much older than I or at least that was the way I remembered her. I remembered them dating when Granny and Grandpa Wade lived on North Water St. in Gallatin, Tn., I guess I was about ten or so. Aunt Sarah passed away some years back but Uncle Henry is still around, he has a great outlook on life.
     And then there is Uncle Paul, Mom's youngest brother. He was in the Navy back in the 50's and he would pop in and out when he was in the neighborhood, I don't know why but for some reason I seemed to have been a little closer to him than some of the others, our lives were entwined until Linda and I left Tn. in the late seventies, since then it has been a rather hit or miss relationship. Uncle Paul is quite a character and a bit of an eccentric and often speaks his mind but then he has earned the privilege having reached the age of 87 as of this writing ( 88 next month ).
     Now we come to Aunt Jean. Aunt Jean was married to mom's oldest brother RC, her full name was Norma Jean and I for whatever reason always called her Aunt Norma when I was growing up, Linda called her Aunt Jean and because of that I fell into the habit. I don't know all of the particulars but I do know that during World War 2 Uncle RC and Aunt Jean wound up in California and when the war was over they stayed and made their home there. We didn't see them very often, sometimes it would be years before they would come home for a visit and it was usually for just a week or two. When I was in the Navy and stationed in San Diego Linda and I would go up to LA and visit with them and when we lived in Sacramento we got together a few times. I guess that Aunt Jean took a liking to Linda, she would always call her on her birthday and talk, if I was home I would get in on the conversation.
     When Uncle RC retired he and Aunt Jean came home to Gallatin and when he passed away she stayed on for a while, Linda and I would go for a visit every now and then. She returned to California a few years back to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren but the phone calls still came every birthday even after Linda had passed she called me.
     I hadn't heard from Aunt Jean in some time so while I was at a cousins reunion last year I asked about her, cousin Sally said she had died but Uncle Paul said no and got her on the phone. Sadly it was the last time I talked with her as I was told the other day she had passed away. Her daughters are returning her ashes to Gallatin to be laid to rest with Uncle RC. She was a beautiful lady and I will miss her.
     The older you get the more of your past turns to memories, it is all a part of the ageing process. The early years of my life have long ago turned to memories I guess that is why I hold on to them so tightly.