Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Time .......changes things?

Many of you know that I attended the funeral of my only aunt this past Saturday, in Texas. She was 83 years old and died suddenly after a short illness. Actually, she had probably been ill for some time but was unaware of the cause. She had colon cancer- but was unaware of it.
She has lived a charmed life of elegance,comfort and financial security. She never had children but made up for it by spoiling my brothers and me on weekends. She and my Uncle George worked and he literally waited on her hand and foot. When he died in 1982 she had to learn the skills of life for the first time-things like driving,cooking and shopping for groceries. She got the driving down but never did get very good at the cooking and grocery shopping.
In 1985 my grandfather died-he was 92- and Aunt Mary decided to move in with my grandmother.Both of them played bridge and attended the local Garden Clubs and church together. Life seemed to just pick up where it had left off for them.
I was always amazed that the house and yard seemed exactly the same as the year before when I had visited. (I spent every summer that I can remember in that house). Even the crickets were the same- I loved it!! My family moved alot and things were always changing for me at home- but here- it all stayed the same.
When I walked into the house last Tuesday nothing was different- except it was a bit messier than I remembered. (Aunt Mary had grown weak over the last 6 weeks and had not been as neat as before).As I started trying to pick up things and straighten up a bit I happened upon this little sight in the bathroom cabinet.
That is my grandfather’s shaving things- exactly where he left them-21 years ago!!!!I was amazed!!! I ran for the camera- and then I noticed my grandmother’s make up nearby- right in it’s place. I started searching for things that were in their places and found so many-it was comforting somehow. I found my grandmother’s hairpins,comb and even her little pot of “rouge” exactly where it was when I was a kid!
I even found the gi-normous razor that I had used the first time I shaved my legs!!! Exactly where it belonged!!!
For as long as I can remember, I have always cried when I left that house- even as an adult. But this time was different- I didn’t cry a tear.
I’m not sure why but maybe it’s because everything was in it’s place- even the memories and the precious people who had made my childhood wonderful were in their place- it felt complete and I drove away happy and peaceful.

5 comments:

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

Your post was so beautiful! Thanks for sharing these moments into your most personal feelings. I felt I was just. . . . there! Isn't it strange how we have changed since the generations of our grandparents?? We keep changing our decor, thinking we need to fill up the yearly garage sale with anything more than a year old. New stuff replaces old stuff, and nothing becomes a memory or a treaure. . . . it's just "stuff!" I've been in many old homes where things just never change. Clothing, personal belongings, and decor is all the same as the day the person died years ago, leaving behind something like a shrine. It's so nice to see in a throw away world that changes on on a whim!

Thanks again for the reminder to appreciate the old ways, remember our loved ones, and make memories for those coming up behind us!

Cora

marilyn said...

Hey Bum,
That was such a heart-lifting blog you left.
i have been worried about you since i drove away that afternoon, when your mom called.

I know that some of us seem to appear as if we don't care because we don't call dutifully and check on our very best friends (and i applaude those people} I've always wanted to be like that but for some reason, I always seem to fall short.
So, I've come to the conclusion that there are those who do the aforementioned,(did i just correctly use that in a sentence?)
and then those of us who have a jug in our hearts that we fill up with our emotions and our worries, and our prayers and all our love for that person.
kind of like holding your breath.
And that is our labor.
IT's a labor in our hearts.
Is that the same as a "labor of love"? who knows. Ask Bub. not the little hairy one.

I knew when you got back in town, we would talk.
so here i am, whenever you feel up to it. call me.
i love you.
marilyn
Please keep my mom in your prayers, she's having some problems, and has begun of barrage of testing with her colon. No results yet other than no bleeding in the stomach from ulcers, etc.
Hence, the jar is filled yet again.

Autumn said...

Thanks so much Cora- it's nice to meet ya!

Maire- you rascal- you always make me laugh!So glad you stopped by again- who knew we'd end up visiting online??????

Farmhouse Blessings said...

Autumn, what beautiful reflections and memories! So glad that you left that home with peace in your heart.

I've been thinking of and praying for you ... and missing you.

Blessings,
Lea

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Oh, how beautiful Autumn...My eyes welled up when I read about her husband's shaving and such still in it's place. True signs of a great love and hopeless romantic. I know that's how I will be should Thomas leave this earth first..too much for my mind to even imagine.

You have some fabulous memories to cherish.

Hugs and Love...