I came out of the womb a serious, anxious child. The world scared me from the first. I preferred my mother’s presence to that of anyone else, feeling warm and safe with her. But you can’t stay in the cocoon of a mother’s love. There is a world, and you are expected to live in that world.
Very early then, I began to collect laughs. I decided as a small child that a person was safe to be around based on frequency and style of laughter. If you didn’t pass my laugh test, I wasn’t spending any time with you. My Aunt Marion passed this laugh test with flying colors.
Funny, I don’t remember any specific conversations with her. I remember being in her basement where the family was living while their house was being built. I remember her decision to push my cousin’s twin beds together one time when I was spending the night, much to my delight. I remember warm, fresh from the oven peanut butter cookies tasting like heaven as we ate them in her sunny kitchen, but mostly I remember her laugh.
Aunt Marion -Thanksgiving 1951
It started at the back of her throat and came bubbling out her lips. It was really, more of a giggle then a laugh. It was delicate. It was feminine. It made you smile. It punctuated sentences, or sometimes marked the beginning of one. It was infectious and drew you in, especially if you were a serious, anxious little girl. It was unique and part of my earliest childhood recollections.
My aunt died this past Sunday, leaving the world a lesser place with only memories of her unique little giggle. She will be missed.
Until Next Time . . .
6 comments:
Terry,
I am very sorry for your loss. She sounds like someone we'd all love to have in our family.
Apple
What special memories you have of your beloved aunt. You are in my thoughts as you grieve her loss.
Lisa
Terry,
I'm sorry to hear of your aunt's death. As I read through your post, I thought of my grandmother. She's been gone almost 23 years - longer than I knew her. Sometimes I can't quite remember exactly what she looked like...but her laugh is in my memory banks forever! My aunt inherited her particular laugh more than my mother...and when I read about your aunt's death I was reminded of mine. My Aunt Joan died in 2004, so she never got to see her great-niece born in 2005. When that great-niece now does something funny (which is often), I can picture/hear my aunt laughing that laugh!
What a great tribute. Here's to Aunt Marion!
Donna
Thank you Apple, Lisa and Donna. I can't believe how fast time goes. It seems like just yesterday, I was a little girl hanging out at my aunt's house.
Donna, how nice that a new generation has inherited "the laugh."
Terry,
So sorry to hear about your aunt.
She sounds like a very special lady. You have wonderful memories of her.
Harriet
Thanks Harriet, for your kind words. They are appreciated!
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