My Aunt Mary is in the hospital tonight… again. It appears to be for the final time. The family has been called. Death comes to all. At ninety-some years old, Aunt Mary has enjoyed a full and often blessed life. She is ready.
You should see the photos of her as a young woman. A raving beauty, she was. Dark-haired and rambunctious. Every boy in the county wanted to court her. She married young, left the hills of Appalachia and moved to Florida. And she never looked back.
Aunt Mary’s husband died when she was still in her thirties. He was older than she and a heavy smoker. Lung cancer got him. Mary never remarried, though. Nor did she even date, as far as I know. She had her little dog, Pinky, and a small garden. She worked for a veterinarian, she loved life and boy, howdy–that woman sure loved to eat, though she never gained an excess amount of weight. Aunt Mary is as slim and trim and beautiful tonight as she ever was. She will be missed on this Earth. Yes, she will.
May the angels carry you straight to Heaven’s gate, Aunt Mary. May the arms of the One who first loved you be there to welcome you home. May you soon rejoice around the table with those who went on before. Those of us who remain here as sojourners will join you when we can. Goodnight, Aunt Mary.
**Addendum: Aunt Mary passed on this morning, June 24th, at 0901 EST. She will be missed.