To know me
is to know you. Your birthday was yesterday and while I talked to you, I’m
visiting you later and I’m writing something to give you from my heart to yours
because that’s how much you mean to me. We’re
the last of the Mohicans, you say. How fitting to be paired with you in this
world where only you and I know our truth and know who we are. As mom said, “You’re
just like your aunt.” I proudly embrace that to my core. I went running into
your life as just a little girl seeing the Florida license plate parked in
front of the house. I still eat beef ramen noodles and go back to my childhood and
the memories of you and my mom laughing together at lunchtime and you making
sure to put on Bob Ross to pique my
curiosity with painting and creating. My teenage years when I bottled everything
up and wouldn’t speak a word of my heart to anyone except you. The memories of
being on your sofa every single day stoned listening to Sarah McLaughlan and
every grunge band discography imaginable just releasing all I felt in total safety with
you. You taught me to be pensive and keep as many journals as I possibly could
and write everything down as I see fit. You never judged me, you loved me. You
never lectured; you embraced. You hugged me at my absolute worst and showed up
for me every single time I needed it. You celebrated every single win I ever
had just as if it were your own. You held my baby in your arms so tightly just
as he was your own. We’ve cried the biggest tears of our lives over Jason and my brother. We’ve lost so much yet we’ve got through it all together. You’ve been
more than my auntie; you’ve been like a mom to me my whole entire life. You’re
here and to be able to hug you is all I need to know that I have someone
forever in my corner. To be able to put pen to paper and recollect the
beautiful memories that I have with you in my life is all I’ll ever need to get
by. I thank God that he blessed me with you. I thank the Lord he gave you the
fire to fight through what you. You calling me saying, “Sweet Dreams. I love
you my beautiful niece” is what brings tears to my eyes after everything. Mom
knows all this, and I know she’s looking down smiling, knowing that I have you
in my life. Thank you for all that you’ve done, all that you are, and all that has
and continues to inspire me. I love you and Happy Birthday my beautiful favorite
auntie.
0 comments