It is hard that I am writing about a loss again. This blog that I have must be more therapy for me than anything. I am hoping to be writing about my great adventure to Hawaii and how wonderful and perfect it was when I get on her next. You know, something upbeat for a change.
I am so sad to say that last night my mom, and aunts lost their sister, and best friend, my uncle lost the love of his life, my cousins lost their mother and the grandmother to their children, and my grandpa lost is second oldest daughter,and my cousins and I lost one of our amazing aunts, and the world lost one of the most beautiful laughs I have ever heard in my life. It gives my heart butterflies thinking of it's contagiousness.
My mom is one of four girls. The Lanphear sister's is how they are known. A lot of people just refer to them as "the sisters", and I think anybody that has got to hang around with them also wants to be one of "the sisters". I don't blame anyone for wanting a bond like they have. It is amazing how they work. All for very different yet so the same. Kind, loving, silly, loud, happy, artsy, hilarious, loud, strong, brave, loud, sweet, best grandmas ever, loud women. They could have a good time anywhere. I would give anything to be able to go back in time and see what it was like when they were growing up in that tiny house.
So from the four sisters came wonderful husbands and then of course the cousins. First came Jamie my brother. A BOY! Those girls got a boy. A kind, quiet sweet boy. I bet they just went crazy loving on him. Then came my sister Katy and from what it sounds like she was not so quiet and very strong willed and well somethings just never change. Then Shanon, then Matt, another sweet quiet boy, then Julie, then Laura, then Mark another sweet quiet boy, then Allison, then Joe another sweet quiet boy, then myself, and then Micheal the baby. He was borderline sweet and quiet but that is just because he was the baby. See there is a trend in my Family. The women are loud and strong willed, but really fun, and the boys are all so sweet and quiet.
I remember the first time I really thought about my family and what we were like. I remember thinking that I wasn't sure if we were normal. I would tell kids at school about my cousins and they would respond by saying things like, well I don't ever see my cousins, or even know them. Then of course at 8 or 9 hearing that I was thinking we are weird always doing everything together. Well every year I grew more and more proud of my family for being so close. Now I wonder to myself when I hear of family's fighting how we could never be like that with my family. For one I don't think the aunts would allow it, and for two I am not sure that I have a bond a true bond with anyone like I have with my family. I just get to be who I am with them and they get to be the same with me. They will never not stand by my side and I will never not stand by there's. No matter what. Just like the sisters, we will always be one of the cousins. We are each others people.
My aunt Pete was such a strong women. Most people wouldn't, or couldn't have put up a fight like she did. I think she was really fighting for her family because she knew that she had to be here for them, for us. I know for sure she didn't want to leave my uncle Ed. They had a love like no other. They would always make bedroom jokes and when I was younger I was hoping they were just trying to bug us, but now as an adult I think they were just truly in love and I hope all that was really happening. ha He adored her up until the last minute and she adored him. A relationship that I wish more people could have. I know that she didn't want to leave Julie and Mark. Julie along with the rest of the girls in this family are kind of mama's girls. Our moms are who we count on for everything. Just like you should, and as adults our moms have become our closest friends. Julie and Pete had such an amazing relationship. Julie was always there for aunt Pete, and aunt Pete was always there for Julie. She was so proud of Mark and who he has become as a man. When my aunt would talk about Mark and the things he has accomplished she would just light up. She was so happy that he found such wonderful women. My Aunt's number one role to her was being a grandma. Aidan, Thor, and Kat. When Aidan would come for a visit there had to be a party! She made Pete melt, She was Pete's first grand baby. Then came Thor who I think became my aunts main focus. Living in the same area as Pete and Ed, Thor was what kept her going for as long as she did. She had to be Strong so that little man could come play. Then sweet Kat, I know my aunt just wanted to get to know her and love on her as much as possible. I wouldn't want to leave this place with those amazing people as my family either.
My aunt was given a kidney by her baby sister Tracy eleven years ago. That kidney gave her a better quality of life than she would have had. My aunt had to fight so many different battles in the last eleven years. Fights that most people would have given up on when just faced by them, not even when fighting them. I hope that I would be able to fight a battle like she did if I were ever faced with it. She had won so many times that I was just waiting for the turn around last night and it never came. She was finally done fighting. I know for sure that if she wasn't tired of the fight she would still be here. She would have won. She was a strongest women I have ever known!
Life is like a box of chocolates...........
