My cousin Marsha, her granddaughter, and I are traveling at highway speed from Albuquerque, NM to Palm Desert, CA. Marsha still owns a home in Palm Desert, where we’ll be staying for the weekend. Sunday is the day we’ll be celebrating the life of my very precious, and favorite, Aunt Helen.
From where we departed, our destination is a 10 hour trip. I guess we’ve been on the road about three hours now, having passed by Gallop at a trot probably a half hour ago.
My cousin, Marsha, is a few years older than me and radiates with the beauty possessed by her mother. I was in about the 5th grade when Marsha and I first became friends, rather than just relatives. Over the years I have traveled to visit her upon special occasion. Twice I spent a week or more with her in her Palm Desert home. Now that she has lived in Albuquerque for a few years, I’ve been to see her, now for the third time. (First two times were going to and from Maine in my RV.)
I’ll be seeing my last few cousins over the weekend, both children of Aunt Helen. Glenda is several years older than me and married young, so we’re not really so close. Robert is my age and, quite frankly, I had a crush on him for many years growing up. He’s always been a cutie!
My Aunt Helen passed at 93 years young. A vital, independent woman, she still lived by herself, drove herself everywhere, went to exercise class 3 times a week for years and years. She was fit and very healthy, as well as very much in touch with the world. She called each of her children once a day and they knew they were loved.
Her last husband, my Uncle Frank, died December of 2006. My mom was still alive then, I lived in Bayfield, CO, and drove to Tucson to pick mom up, then drove to Yucaipa. We stayed with my aunt for the few days we were there and helped console her. He was the Love of her life and an amazing, intelligent, loving man. He was still in her heart the last time I spoke to her.
So many fond memories of that beautiful lady! When in the 5th grade, I sang a solo at school, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. She was so excited for me and, after driving down to Indio (where my family lived), I remember she and I were doing the dishes after dinner and we sang, in unison, the song. Not only did I think she was the most beautiful woman in the world, I also thought she had the most beautiful singing voice I’d ever heard! I loved and adored that woman my whole life!
After my mom died, Aunt Helen and I were in fairly constant touch with each other. Especially when I was on the road in fall of 2015; she called a lot, wondering where I was and how I was doing, scolding me if I waited more than a week to call her. She backed me 100% with my travels, but I know she was afraid for me.
She knew about Charlie (the love of MY life) and even talked on the phone with him once. She was excited at the prospect of meeting him, though never got the chance. She always concluded our phone conversation with, “I love you and tell Charlie I love him too!”
I’m so grateful for my many wonderful memories of her and blessed we had such a loving relationship. That I’m able to go to her funeral is such a gift! Gratitude to Rev. Bonnie Smith, Teresa Valenzuela, Marsha Smith, and LeAnne Warner!
Love, Jane
janestravel 