Passions of an Odd Chick

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

ODD CHICK GOES TO DALLAS



I took my mom to see her favorite aunt who lives in Dallas, and I took my sister-in-law to see who sister who lives in Dallas, and I took one of my best friends to see her daughter in Dallas, and I took myself to travel with all these fun people to see my great-aunt, my uncle and aunt and cousins and friends who live in Dallas. We had a wild, glorious ride and I had my sister-in-law snap these photos (with my new camera, YEAH)because I was driving in rush-hour traffic (I'm a small-town girl) but I was fascinated with how the light was creating shadow and reflection.


We had a wonderful time visiting and laughing and telling stories.

My aunt and uncle graciously hosted us as they have many times and you feel you have been on holy ground, in a sacred place after being around them because they are so good and kind and patient.

This is my Aunt Freda (in red) and my mom. Aunt Freda is like the fairy god-mother. For every year of my life and for every single relative alive and born in her family, including in-laws - we all receive a handmade birthday card. And when you are 18 or under, you received money in it. She has never forgotten a single person or a single birthday and she is famous for her thoughtfulness and remembrance of all of us for all of these years. It was a pleasure to see her and to see how well she is as she is learning to adjust in a beautiful assisted living home.


All of us want to grow up and be more like Aunt Freda and Aunt Petey and Uncle James. In our family, they deserve to be knighted or crowned or given sainthood.

Do you have an unusually thoughtful relative of whom you would share a comment with me?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, too, have received a card on my birthday every year since birth from the same wondeful Aunt (as have my three daughters). I hope she knows the blessing those cards have been over the years to each and every of our family.

WRH

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

That's a lovely story.

Countrygirl said...

My Gramma who recently passed away never missed our birthday - until this last year. She was quite possibly the most thoughtful person I've ever known.

Teri said...

This sounds like fabulous family gathering, full of love and fun.

That photo showing the light is indeed something to behold.

merci33 said...

My Aunt Helen May was by far the quirkiest and most fascinating person for me to have had in my early life.
She lived in NYC and often sent large boxes to our home in Ohio. The boxes would be bound with a patchwork of knots tied into the white string that she used as her 'lock' system. We were NOT ALLOWED to open the boxes...ever.
My mother would stack them into the attic and we would ponder what treasures they held.
After Aunt Helen May left this world we were left with the boxes and now we had the amazing opportunity to open them.
I'll never forget our delight and bewilderment when we discovered that she had mailed things like, many beautiful leather gloves with no mates. An assortment odd and fabulous buttons. Lots of spent postage stamps, a broken toaster, and many many fine and intricately crafted pieces of clothing. There may have been some good things mixed in, and since there were many boxes, there were many other items but these pieces stand out for me and made me smile whenever I thought of her oddness...still does make me smile...so thanks for jogging that memory.

Odd Chick said...

Now that story just tickled me - thanks for sharing.

Shelley said...

Thanks so much for posting a picture of Aunt Freda! I have always wondered what she looked like. Her cards and thoughfulness are a great blessing and a goal we should strive to be more like! Wish you could have come by and picked me up... I would have loved to go visiting, too!