(no subject)
For once I'm actually going to record something in here that is of real substance, as opposed to some youtube video or my thoughts on the NBA
My aunt died on Friday. She had been battling cancer for approximately a year. It was a sudden turn, she had been doing well for a while but it ended up being worse than expected. Her name was Connie.
Growing up, I didn't know her well. She knitted me an afghan when I was a youngster that I took when I left my house and moved to Kalamazoo. It's my only material link to her. My grandfather died in the 70's before I was born and my grandmother was her stepmother. There was always a bit of bickering between them that growing up I was only loosely familiar with. There was an awkwardness that I was aware of but never understood. She was one of the strongest women I've ever met. She was also my mother's best friend. I was never particularly close with her, but I always felt a strong bond despite that. Only now do I regret not making a greater effort through the years to know her better. I always felt one day we'd become friends, but the cancer hit harder and faster than I thought and I missed that opportunity.
Connie moved to San Francisco years ago to run her own PR firm. I remember her talking about meeting Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, when I was in high school. I thought that was really cool. She also started a shelter for battered women in Milwaukee where she grew up. Out of all of my relatives she was the one I most aspired towards and I never let her know that. She is certainly missed by me and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was a good, strong, and compassionate person and I would do well to be half the person she was.
My aunt died on Friday. She had been battling cancer for approximately a year. It was a sudden turn, she had been doing well for a while but it ended up being worse than expected. Her name was Connie.
Growing up, I didn't know her well. She knitted me an afghan when I was a youngster that I took when I left my house and moved to Kalamazoo. It's my only material link to her. My grandfather died in the 70's before I was born and my grandmother was her stepmother. There was always a bit of bickering between them that growing up I was only loosely familiar with. There was an awkwardness that I was aware of but never understood. She was one of the strongest women I've ever met. She was also my mother's best friend. I was never particularly close with her, but I always felt a strong bond despite that. Only now do I regret not making a greater effort through the years to know her better. I always felt one day we'd become friends, but the cancer hit harder and faster than I thought and I missed that opportunity.
Connie moved to San Francisco years ago to run her own PR firm. I remember her talking about meeting Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, when I was in high school. I thought that was really cool. She also started a shelter for battered women in Milwaukee where she grew up. Out of all of my relatives she was the one I most aspired towards and I never let her know that. She is certainly missed by me and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was a good, strong, and compassionate person and I would do well to be half the person she was.