Not A Loss, But A Privilege

The news of Betty White's death on New Year's Eve has surely not escaped you. Nor has the extraordinary life she led. The brilliant comedienne and actress that she was in life will live forever thanks to all her work on television. She was smart and funny and compassionate. Her animal right activism is an inspiration. Tomorrow would have been her 100th Birthday. Funny how someone could live to such and old age and still not have lived long enough. I really thought she would just live forever.

While I can't say that I mourn her death, as I did not know her personally, I can say that my deepest sympathies go out to those who did. Do know that it was a privilege to live in the time of Betty White. 

The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls are available on Hulu. 

Hot In Cleveland is available on Paramount +. 

The Proposal is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Donations to animal charities in her honor would certainly be welcome. Here are a few ideas.

ASPCA

World Wildlife Fund

The Humane Society Of The United States

One Less Set Of Footsteps

This week on Tuesday, my family gathered to say good bye to my Uncle Joe.

It was very nice to see so many people who cared about him and learn some interesting things about my family.

I remember my Uncle Joe from when I was little. I liked going to his house because he had a pool. And I liked my cousins since they were bigger than me and did cool stuff like play baseball and ride bikes. My uncle played guitar so there was always music.

I was not recently close with my Uncle Joe. I remember him from when I was little but, I am not really close to any of that side of the family.

Not anyone’s fault. I just didn’t know them.

Anyway, I am getting to know them now.

After the memorial service, I went to my Aunt Tina’s house to visit with my dad while he was in town. I also got to spend time with my Aunt Tina, my Aunt Mary, who was visiting from Texas, and my cousins.

It was so nice to get to spend some time with everyone.

Too bad we only do it when something bad happens. Maybe we should start planning trips for good times. A large amount of us live in the area… You know, just saying.

Parents Are Supposed To Be Here Forever

Just like everyone else, I was born with a mom and a dad. My parents got divorced when I was six. I lived with my grandparents for awhile. Eventually, when I was 11, my mom married my step dad and we settled down. By then, my dad was pretty much cut out, so I didn't see him again for a long time. As a matter of fact, I didn't have any kind of relationship with him until the last few years. My mom and I may have lived in the same house, but we never really got along. She would go years without speaking to me for some reason or another.

When I was 17, I got this boyfriend. And he had these Aunts...

He asked me to come with him to help his Aunts paint a room for their new baby.

Sure.

It was quite the event. I was covered in paint. There were all of these crazy people. It was fun.

A few weeks later, he took me there for a baby shower. Again... Crazy people.

That was in the fall of 1994. In the Spring of 1995, just before I graduated high school, my mom decided it would be better if I lived elsewhere. I had just turned 18. I moved in with the boyfriend and his mom. But it was the Aunts who helped the most. I didn't have anyone else and I trusted them. Chris and Sherri.

That summer I found out I had an allergy to latex. And it was Sherri I told. (Don't ask how I found out, but it was one interesting conversation.) Shortly after that, I found out I was pregnant with Carolynn. And it was Chris and Sherri we went to.

When Carolynn was 6 weeks old, we moved in to their house. We had no where else to go. They found me a job. They taught me all the important stuff about being a mom. Plus things like how to grocery shop and budget. How to cook and sew and garden. Basically, I am the adult I am now because of them.

Since we moved back to the high desert 5 years ago, they have been our closest family. Even though I long divorced their nephew, they still treated me like a daughter. They love David too. And Michelle. We spent holidays and summers together. It's nice knowing that you have family right there. Their baby, Taylor, who is now 18, is like a little brother. Or a big brother to Carolynn and Catherine.

So what we aren't really related? Sure, they are Carolynn and Catherine's great-aunts. But we are way closer than that.

They are my moms. My parents. The ones I have always gone too. The ones I would do anything for. Family.

Around the beginning of January, Chris was diagnosed with cancer. She has battled it once before. This time, there was nothing they could do.

On Sunday afternoon, I lost one of my moms.

She told me not to be sad.

Impossible.

But I am trying. I still have Sherri and Taylor.

It will get easier. I know it will.