A Letter from My Aunt Jeanne

Post date: Jul 24, 2017 2:39:26 AM

A blog post for Sunday, July 23

Two weeks ago my sister Cathi and cousin Anne took our Aunt Jeanne out to lunch: she had just had a birthday.

We met in Marshalltown at Perkins: there were a few cards and small gifts but the most important thing was just being together. We ate, talked, laughed, and shared memories. Jeanne is the youngest of three sisters: the gentle matriarch who knows the stories and secrets and heartbreaks of our family history. She has four sons and always called us "her girls."

I tucked a copy of my most recent chapter of family history into her gift bag: it was an essay about my two Grandmas--her mother Nellie and her paternal Grandmother Eva. I had inserted a few pictures in the document and she looked through those rather quickly while I grabbed my iPad and showed her, Cathi and Anne a few more pictures.

Today I got a letter in the mail and it brought a smile. "Most of all, Cherie, thank you for giving me a copy of your "two Grandmas" story. That first night I enjoyed reading it so much -- a lot of old memories. I loved how you started out with the Bible verse. It reminded me of Ruth in the Holy Book telling her mother in law "wherever you go, I will go." You did a great job Cherie & I could feel the love in the story of your two grandmas."

I don't think any editor could ever give me higher praise. My mother did not live to see me be published; however, my Aunt Jeanne--her younger sister--has been there for us since my mother's passing, and since Reva's passing (the oldest sister). When I gave Aunt Jeanne her copy of the book published last fall, with the essay about her sister, we were both teary eyed and smiling at the same time.

Like many critics, she had an idea for a possible sequel: "I can see you authoring a piece of fiction about the three crazy sisters! Ha." I might just have to do that: I certainly have plenty of material!

The three sisters--Reva, Charlotte (my mom) and Jeanne--enjoying the beach at Nag's Head.

Last updated July 23, 2017