My son and I drove down to visit my Aunt Kathy on Mother's Day in 2009. I made her a Lemon Chiffon Cream Cake and enjoyed spending the day with her. She remained in my thoughts, and I spoke to her again a few weeks later after I used another aunt as a courier to deliver one of Kathy's favorite pizzas.
Cancer took her from us in July. Writing this helped me heal. I finished it in September 2009.
Still missing you, Kathy and thinking about you, especially today...your birthday.
Looking to the North
It still does not seem possible that someone so full of life is no longer here with us.
We
can accept the reality of our loss and find comfort in knowing Kathy’s
pain is gone. We have faith in believing she is surrounded by the loved
ones who passed before her, but it is still a loss that is more than our
hearts can bear.
Kathy was a survivor. One of my favorite
memories of her remains the time she flashed me after her mastectomy and
reconstruction. She wanted to show me that breast cancer could be
survived. I miss the gleam in her golden eyes, her smile and her laugh.
She
is my favorite aunt, and I don’t think anyone could begrudge her that
title. She was everyone’s favorite because of her love for her family
and friends. She lived a life full of good food, chocolate and potent
potables. I love sharing her love of reading and cooking. We love her
for her sense of humor, her passion, her patience as a teacher, and the
home she created that became the southern outpost of The Farm for her
extended family.
Kathy was a marvel. She did not mince
words...she spoke her mind. I was in awe of the older sister who could
keep my mother in line.
A Christmas tradition at The Farm was
the pool tracking everyone’s estimate for when Kathy and her family
would arrive. It was something to make the time speed by because we so
looked forward to seeing them and digging in to her fabulous cookies.
Last
summer, while staying in Ironwood, she helped haul firewood. She would
not let her diagnosis slow her down when there was work to be done. She
was quick to lend a hand to those in need.
Kathy was an amazing
mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and a teacher until
the end. She showed us how to live and love in the face of adversity.
She tried to hide her pain by making us laugh and smile. Kathy’s grace,
her spirit and her courage inspire us.
Her final lesson was to
teach us how to face the final step in this journey of life — how to
die. She passed away while surrounded by love. Who could ask for more?
Kathy’s
obituary said that she was the rock of our family, but she was so much
more than that. The North Star is a constant in the night sky. It is
easy to find, and helps those seeking direction, guiding the lost home.
Kathy is our North Star.
We
have only to look in our hearts and memories to find her. We can
continue to seek direction and learn from the lessons she taught us.
When it comes time for our journey to end, we may take comfort in
knowing that she’ll be there to help guide us home.
