It's lovely that the sisters stayed close all their lives.

she left you a treasure of true value.

It's hard losing a parent, I know, both of mine are gone. But many wonderful memories, as I'm sure you have. They will get you through.

How you must treasure the pictures too. They're beautiful keepsakes of our mother and your aunt. Thank you for sharing them.

My condolences, Spitfire.

I would have missed this entirely if I hadn't accidentally clicked on your name, instead of the title, from a front page article and was taken to your journal. I would have felt badly not to have seen it, because you are one of my favorite DUers, and I hope you know that.

Your commemoration here makes it clear that you loved her very much, and I'm so sorry she has moved on and you're missing her. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows how "beyond us" grief is, how much bigger than us. I think of it as a journey, a sad/happy path we have no choice but to follow, as it does what it needs to do. I didn't have loving parents, but I've had loving friends, and the loss of too many of them, at too young an age, has been a real "carving out" for me. Two, in particular, who have been gone for seven and eleven years respectively, are strongly in my heart to this day, and I hear myself murmuring , "I miss you" at various times, and at other times just feel their loving presence. So, they never totally leave, and you never stop missing them, and I think it is just a part of life.

Your photographic essay for your mom and her sister is thoughtful and charming. It's wonderful they had each other all those years, and one had such an observant, caring child. A smart, clever, funny one, too -- which must have been really nice for her.

Take care, Spitfire.

Her entire life reduced to a single carload of stuff.

way more than stuff. The pictures you posted show a girl/woman who didn't seem so interested in stuff. What's in your heart is bigger and stronger than a truckload of stuff.

Hang in there, Spitfire.

Back in the days when you had a fully stocked bar and everyone got hammered.

I'll share when I can. There are tropical sunsets on Guam in there.

I remember when parents, aunts, uncles, had bars, shot glasses, swizzle sticks, olives, maraschino cherries, and tiny onions, jokes about waving the vermouth cork over the gin-filled martini glass and yes, they got hammered. But they had a lot of fun along the way. For awhile, anyway. Everyone smoked, too. Different world.

Slides and film are way more interesting than stuff.

Guam -- was your Dad in the military? When you find time to share your photos, please let people know. I don't get around much in DU.

I had an uncle in the Air Force and close family friends in the Navy. They traveled so much; it was just a way of life. I think it was interesting and mind-expanding for the kids -- at least no one ever complained. Guam has got to be an exotic place to live, if you remember any of it. For some stupid reason, I picture the military way of life shown in From Here to Eternity, kind of a busy little social world in a fabulously exotic location. That could be fun for a kid. I hope your mom enjoyed it.

By now I figured we would all be traveling in space.

Then Nixon killed the space program because he hated Kennedy.

If you were interested in air/space travel as a kid, it must have been really fun and exciting for you. I recall overhearing my air force uncle telling my dad that the AF had been aware of UFOs for many years but didn't want to alarm the public.

I may have been through or near Lompoc at some point in the distant past. The general area is not unfamiliar; I went to boarding school less than 100 miles away. The entire area is lovely, mellow, livable, and parts are absolutely charming. But due to the existence of a persistent long-term stalker, I try to keep personally identifying information to a minimum.

It's been an eye-opener to learn how strongly personal feelings (Nixon hating Kennedy) affect national priorities. Teddy Kennedy's autobiography gives a very palpable sense of the Kennedy dislike for Carter.

,....but after Watergate nobody would admit they voted for them.

Our species isn't all that great. Kinda hope I've got some Neanderthal in there somewhere. But right now am too sleepy to see straight.

Buenas Noches, amigo.

seven years ago and I never stop talking to him.

He must have been a nice dad.

These photos testify the two sisters' close relationship of all their lives. And their close relationship is so admirable. They must have lived a wonderful and happy life.

but the last pic is beautiful and radiant with love, happiness, and sweetness. what a treasure.

You're smart to stay out of GD-P but your trenchant observations are, of course, missed. You always raise the IQ level of a thread.

Anyway, spring's here, and I hope things are good for the Spitfires.

(Edit -- am using bmus' green kitty in my sig line b/c she was put on review for receiving extremely bogus hides.)

Last edited Tue Apr 19, 2016, 06:05 PM - Edit history (1)

And yes, things are settling into the new normal.

Thanks for caring.

After the abuse and ugliness of yesterday, it's becoming a lot harder. The hatred from one side is shocking. I can see why you would need to protect yourself from it, especially while dealing with a deep personal loss.

You know, your photos of your mom and aunt speak to a level of innocent happiness that all people should have, and it makes me happy to see them. My parents didn't know how to love, but i had an aunt who shined with the love and happiness that shows in your mom, and being with her was like standing by a heater in winter. After my parents died, she and I got closer. She died of old age a few years ago, and I've missed her terribly, but the memory of her voice, her smiling eyes and laughter, remains. Sometimes it feels like she's with me, bringing light and encouragement with her. It's very nice, and I do what I can to keep it flowing, because it's comforting and also a way to honor her for who she was.

Your mom looks like someone who could be kept close that way.

I hope the new normal will be good for you, Spitfire.

Sometimes time and fate work out exactly the right way and good things happen to good people just when they should.

Congratulations, Spitfire! I guess after 17 years, you know it's going to work out.

sorry for your loss

yes indeed

these are beautiful photos.

And I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your aunt - and your mom. They look very happy - and very close. The pictures remind me of my aunt and my mother, only two girls in the family and only 18 months apart. My aunt died in 2010 after a battle with high blood pressure and two strokes. She was the younger one. And I lost my mother in 2011, an accident when she fell down the stairs in the dark during a power outage, Hurricane Irene here in New York. You have my understanding and my sympathies...