Past and Future

The past week was full of sadness and richness.  My last remaining aunt, Elizabeth Marie Nord Lange, passed away.  The blessing was that she was 93, lucid and sharp as could be until the end, and died peacefully.  The tragedy was that her own daughter, my cousin Donna Lange Parsons, died five days before from cancer at the age of 62.  And Donna, by her own choice, had been estranged from all family except for my aunt for most of her adult life.  She had, in the past couple of years, reached out to her siblings who she had alienated, but of course, the rift of 25 or so years is not easy to heal.  So, on the day my cousins attended, and participated in the funeral of their sister, their mother passed away also.  It was a very, very sad day, indeed.

The top photo shows Aunt Betty and her siblings and parents.  Her mother was 45 years old when she was born.  Betty is the beautiful young girl.  My father is top left.  Next to him, second from the left,  is Aunt Lillian.  Below that is a photo of my niece, Erin Nord Toto.  We were struck by the resemblance.  There is no mistaking the genetics.  I found it fascinating to study the photo of my aunts and uncles and grandparents and see the "butt" chin that I love in my oldest son staring back at me.  Or the ice blue eyes of my great niece and nephew in my grandfather.

After the funeral, my siblings and I gathered in Cleveland for hours of reminiscing and story telling.  There was such a contentment and comfort that settled over us that the loss was replaced and our hearts felt lightened.

And, if the stories and family ties were not enough, there were my sister and brother-in-law's cats to amuse and entertain.  This photo is of Scout, who likes to just sit with his nose against the table.  For what purpose, I have no idea.  Just sits and thinks, I guess.  And makes us smile.