At Least They're Committed

Got a call from my auntie! Her voice was loud, yelling amid the chaos around her. “We’re taking off from the port in San Diego!” she screamed. “It’s beautiful! I just had to share it with you!”

She was back in her element! I squealed with delight! So joyous she sounded, so happy, so alive! She hasn’t felt this way in years and I am overflowing with gladness.

I’m only about 5 and we’re standing in the single bathroom atop the stairs in Grandma’s Fernwood apartment in Ann Arbor, Mich. (yes, there is a reason I now live on Fernwood). Patti is putting her makeup on. I look into her eyes, as she still recalls: “These big, round blue eyes, pug nose and full lips looking up at me saying ‘Aunt Patti, I want to look like you when I grow up!” And I remember her, brown haired, brown eyed and thin lipped,  laughing and saying, “You’re not going to look like me, but you’ll be happy for how you look!” And I am. My aunt has been my inspiration, my friend and — at only 11 years older than me — was the maid of honor in my wedding.

And now she’s happy again. And I can’t think of a better gift for a Sunday leading into a busy, toiling, troubled week. Nothing will! She is Bette, I am Olivia! We rock on! 🙂