With my mom one of six and my dad one of three growing up I was not lacking for aunts and uncles. While I have special bonds with all my aunts there was one aunt I had an extra special bond with. She was more like my friend, I could call her up and we would just talk for hours (it seemed like). This aunt was my aunt by marriage so there was no true familiar bond. Tomorrow will mark the 14th year since her passing. Some days it feels like yesterday and others a lifetime ago.

This aunt is the kids grandma. So there are days; while holding the three year old in my arms, or laughing at something the four year old said, or fighting with the nine year old to do her homework, or watching the seventeen year old growing into a young lady getting ready to go to college; I can’t help thinking how much joy being their grandma would bring her. And how they never had a chance to experience her love for them first hand. Even though I’m not really their aunt I hope I can be at least half the aunt she was to me.