Annie passed away this week. Annie and her husband Paul were the kind of couple we all want to be, devoted and in love 58 years later.
I know Annie and Paul because Annie was my Aunt's best friend for 45 years and Paul is probably my Uncles best friend. I remember when my cousin died Annie was the only one around with enough sense about her to look after my brother and me. She made sure we ate and sent us out strawberry picking with her daughter to get us out of the house. We where kids and didn't understand what was going on and when it finally hit Annie was there with the tissues and some answers.
Annie was the kind of women who always had something to say and you couldn't miss her in any room no matter how large the crowd. Her laughter was contagious. Her baking skills beyond compare.
I sat with my Aunt today at the wake. Seeing a look on her face that I have not seen since the death of her son. We talked small talk and those who where able of the summer Sunday poker umm I mean pool parties talked of old times. I sat back and watched feeling like something was missing. I couldn't put my finger on it but the roomful of people just didn't seem right something was missing.
I looked at Paul sitting alone at the front of the room. His children where near but talking to other family. Paul was sitting there looking like a lost little boy. His cheeks and eyes sunken in. I could see the tears in the corners of his eyes from where I sat. I realized then what was missing. I had a flash of memory of Annie sitting there teasing Paul and the twinkle in his eye as he teased back.
The something missing was Annie. She would have loved this gathering of people. She would have tried to feed them and talked and laughed with them. It just wasn't right that all those people where there and Annie wasn't part of the party.
Summer Sunday poker umm I mean pool parties will never be the same. Birthdays 4th of July Memorial day Labor Day Christmas. None of it will ever be the same. The twinkle in Paul's eye the spark of laughter that can ignite a whole room. The women who was Annie is gone.
I know Annie and Paul because Annie was my Aunt's best friend for 45 years and Paul is probably my Uncles best friend. I remember when my cousin died Annie was the only one around with enough sense about her to look after my brother and me. She made sure we ate and sent us out strawberry picking with her daughter to get us out of the house. We where kids and didn't understand what was going on and when it finally hit Annie was there with the tissues and some answers.
Annie was the kind of women who always had something to say and you couldn't miss her in any room no matter how large the crowd. Her laughter was contagious. Her baking skills beyond compare.
I sat with my Aunt today at the wake. Seeing a look on her face that I have not seen since the death of her son. We talked small talk and those who where able of the summer Sunday poker umm I mean pool parties talked of old times. I sat back and watched feeling like something was missing. I couldn't put my finger on it but the roomful of people just didn't seem right something was missing.
I looked at Paul sitting alone at the front of the room. His children where near but talking to other family. Paul was sitting there looking like a lost little boy. His cheeks and eyes sunken in. I could see the tears in the corners of his eyes from where I sat. I realized then what was missing. I had a flash of memory of Annie sitting there teasing Paul and the twinkle in his eye as he teased back.
The something missing was Annie. She would have loved this gathering of people. She would have tried to feed them and talked and laughed with them. It just wasn't right that all those people where there and Annie wasn't part of the party.
Summer Sunday poker umm I mean pool parties will never be the same. Birthdays 4th of July Memorial day Labor Day Christmas. None of it will ever be the same. The twinkle in Paul's eye the spark of laughter that can ignite a whole room. The women who was Annie is gone.
posted by Chris | 6:42 PM
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