"Hello, Favorite Niece"

Written by Georgia Wednesday, 02 September 2009 19:00

My beloved Aunt Joyce passed away yesterday. I am heartbroken.

Understandably, she’s been the focus of my thoughts, and I’m having some trouble absorbing. She was sick for several months and her passing wasn’t at all unexpected, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’ve never lost anybody with whom I’ve had a very special bond, and I suppose I should be thankful that it’s taken 41 years for me to have that status changed, but it’s been a rough couple of days.

I’ve always said Aunt Joyce was a woman before her time. She was feisty and fiercely independent and she took no shit, not from anybody. She was very in tune with people psychologically; I always thought she’d make a great counselor or therapist. She certainly spent enough time listening to me blather on and on about stuff that I now look back on and think of as petty and unimportant. She was one of the very first family members I ever came out to, and she never missed a beat in her support. She read every one of my books, telling me after reading the first one that she’d gotten “quite an education.” I talked to her many times about new story ideas or bumps in the writing road that I’d run into, and she always had intelligent, insightful advice to offer.

“Hello, Favorite Niece.”

That was her standard greeting whenever she called me or I called her. I can still hear her voice in my head, something I know (and fear) will fade with time. Yesterday was hard, but today feels harder. Today is the day when it starts to sink in that I will never see her or talk to her again, and all I can say is that it sucks in a big way.

I don’t mean to be a downer, I just can’t believe she’s gone. I’m sure there will come a point, though, when instead of being devastated by her loss, I’ll remember the fun times we shared, the incredible conversations we had, and how lucky I was to have somebody who loved me so unconditionally, helped me find my own inner strength, and who brightened the world just by being in it. I will miss her every day for the rest of my life.

 

Comments (3)
  • |05-30-2010 23:00:50 laura  - Family Bonds
    It's good to hear about an aunt-niece bond like this. I am just coming to terms with the possibility that I may never have kids, but I try to take comfort in the fact that I am very close to my nieces. I've often wondered, though, if our relationships will last through puberty and into adulthood, especially since I'm not close to any of my aunts and I don't really know anybody who is. This post, tragic though it is, has given me hope that I can be a mainstay for my girls as they grow the way it sounds like your aunt was for you. Thanks for sharing.
    Quote
  • |09-11-2009 22:13:04 Colleen  - It never fades..
    To my favorite cousin,
    Not everyone has the opportunity to bond with someone and even more, be their comfort into the next stage of life. I envy you for having that with her. She was wonderful.
    I was also lucky enough to have that type relationship with my mother-in-law. She is still with me in spirit, holding those same sweet conversations with me (as if we were both young school girl chums).
    Yes, the hurt will pass but that blessing remains forever.
    Quote
  • |09-11-2009 18:50:41 Mercedes  - Aloha
    Thank you for sharing this, Georgia. It is not a downer at all, in fact, it made me think about my mom, smile, and tilt my head listening for her voice and and the sound of her laughter. It is still there. :)

    with aloha,
    Mercedes
    Quote
Write comment
Your Contact Details:
Comment:
[b] [i] [u] [url] [quote] [code] [img]   
:angry::0:confused::cheer:B):evil::silly::dry::lol::kiss::D:pinch:
:(:shock::X:side::):P:unsure::woohoo::huh::whistle:;):s
:!::?::idea::arrow:
Security
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Login