Aunt Lynne

My cousin Amy said that looking through old photos helped her deal with the passing of her mom, my Aunt Lynne. Her words have been on my mind, because the photo on the April page of our family calendar shows Aunt Lynne, Uncle Johnny, my sister, Aunt Judy and me visiting my grandmother at the nursing home last spring. My grandmother passed away in August; Aunt Lynne passed away last month. I look at the picture every day and it makes me sad. While down in Connecticut this week I decided to go through the family photo albums. I wanted to see the Aunt Lynne I remember best; having fun, making me laugh, hugging Amy, so in love with Uncle Johnny.

When I cracked open one album a Polaroid fluttered to the ground. My first pet, a guinea pig named Lucy, and my rock collection. I was a bad pet owner at age twelve, and lost interest in cleaning the cage. For her part, Lucy was an all-night squealing nightmare. Aunt Lynne bailed me out and took Lucy in. Her tender care transformed the little pig from a squealer to a behaved and beloved pet who dined daily on fresh salads. Something magical happened to Lucy, and that something was love. I love you Aunt Lynne and I miss you.