A Bittersweet Morning
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Palaver
Jun 11, 2011, 8:46:14 PM6/11/11
to Palaver's Travels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDA0Hecw1k&playnext=1&videos=FmZ4aGyL594
I've had a bittersweet morning, this morning.
While I was delighted beyond words over running across one of my first
cousins who I haven't seen for nearly thirty years, I'm on the other
hand heartbroken upon learning of my last remaining aunt's passing, on
our fathers' side. And wouldn't you know, she has been on my mind so
much for the last several months but I kept putting off calling her
until I could have something positive to tell her. She was such a rock
that it never occurred to me to see how she was doing and I'm so sorry
I didn't. "I just wish I would have told her, in the living word." I
cried like a baby after getting off the phone to Carol, from the
bittersweet feelings that filled my heart.
It was nearly thirty years ago when we were all at "Gramma" Buerge's
funeral, there at Aunt Wilma's in Michigan where I last saw Carol.
Aunt Betty, Marcia, Carol, Jody, Brad, Uncle Virg, Uncle Gene, Uncle
Frank and Auntie Vi were all there and now, with the exception of Aunt
Juanita, Uncle Gene's widow, Auntie Vi is the last to go of the Buerge
bunch from that generation.
The last thing she ever gave me, which I will cherish 'til the day I
die, is the book she published a couple years ago; "The River Styx
News"; proof that what I've said all along is true. I come from a
family of writers and accomplished authors. She's just one.
I'm pretty sure, if she was at all like Gramma in this respect, there
are a couple of cards from me somewhere in her immense supply of
memorabilia, addressing her as "Aunt Mom". I had a lot of so-called
moms growing up but Gramma and Auntie Vi were the BEST. Gramma never
threw a card away in her life that anyone sent to her and I can only
imagine where they all came from. That little lady did get around and
made friends everywhere she went from coast to coast, literally.
And like Gramma, Auntie Vi was <cough> outspoken, young at heart and
very giving by nature. I have laughed so many times over the years
when I remember Auntie Vi trying to cock her leg behind her while I
put her through warm up exercises to become more flexible so she could
do the splits like I could. Not bad for an old lady of forty
something! Now I'd settle for being forty again and know what I know
now! And the time she, mind you, a little Mennonite lady, saw a black
Santa Claus standing outside a Piggly Wiggly and the look on her face
was incredulous! "Everybody knows Santa Claus isn't black!" Were her
very words, as sure as I'm sitting here and as serious as ever she had
been. She was a hoot!
It's so wonderful to learn of my cousin's family, how many children
she has and how well she and her husband are doing, and it's a great
feeling to know I'm from such <wink>... good stock. It touched my
heart when Carol told me that she'd named her only son Larry
Christian, after her brother who passed away when we were barely five
and her father, my dad's oldest brother, whose middle name was
Christian. "Gramma" got the name from our great grandfather, Christian
Gingrich Buerge; a minister in the Mennonite church many years before
Carol and I were born but living with Gramma, I heard a lot of stories
about him and his generation.
As long as I can remember anything I will never forget Carol climbing
up and bending way down into the casket to give her brother a kiss
good-bye and though the impact of the moment didn't hit me until many
years later, it has never left my memory.
I always looked forward to having Uncle Wilfred's come up because we
could torment Marcia and I had a GIRL to play with! Carol! With twin
brothers around to constantly torment ME, I finally had not only an
outlet but an ally! Sorry Marcia. I'm all growd up now and wouldn't
think of harrassing you now.
The trips to Ohio to see them were equally exciting! THEY had a
televison...! and a game called Cooties.......! and a 45 record with
Alvin and the Chipmunks singing their Christmas songs, and the neatest
closet in her mom and dad's bedroom that we could crawl through to get
to a different part of the house, in the event we were trying to
escape the boys, Brad and Jody. Who'd have thought years later Jody
would be adopted by Aunt Betty and he would become my cousin?
And there are more, Marcia, Bonita and Roseanne, Jerry, Jim... I am
awaiting Bonita's safe return from the Big Sur so we can do some
serious catching up a well! I can hardly wait, and to tell her I love
her!
Naomi Hinshaw-Hersh
I've had a bittersweet morning, this morning.
While I was delighted beyond words over running across one of my first
cousins who I haven't seen for nearly thirty years, I'm on the other
hand heartbroken upon learning of my last remaining aunt's passing, on
our fathers' side. And wouldn't you know, she has been on my mind so
much for the last several months but I kept putting off calling her
until I could have something positive to tell her. She was such a rock
that it never occurred to me to see how she was doing and I'm so sorry
I didn't. "I just wish I would have told her, in the living word." I
cried like a baby after getting off the phone to Carol, from the
bittersweet feelings that filled my heart.
It was nearly thirty years ago when we were all at "Gramma" Buerge's
funeral, there at Aunt Wilma's in Michigan where I last saw Carol.
Aunt Betty, Marcia, Carol, Jody, Brad, Uncle Virg, Uncle Gene, Uncle
Frank and Auntie Vi were all there and now, with the exception of Aunt
Juanita, Uncle Gene's widow, Auntie Vi is the last to go of the Buerge
bunch from that generation.
The last thing she ever gave me, which I will cherish 'til the day I
die, is the book she published a couple years ago; "The River Styx
News"; proof that what I've said all along is true. I come from a
family of writers and accomplished authors. She's just one.
I'm pretty sure, if she was at all like Gramma in this respect, there
are a couple of cards from me somewhere in her immense supply of
memorabilia, addressing her as "Aunt Mom". I had a lot of so-called
moms growing up but Gramma and Auntie Vi were the BEST. Gramma never
threw a card away in her life that anyone sent to her and I can only
imagine where they all came from. That little lady did get around and
made friends everywhere she went from coast to coast, literally.
And like Gramma, Auntie Vi was <cough> outspoken, young at heart and
very giving by nature. I have laughed so many times over the years
when I remember Auntie Vi trying to cock her leg behind her while I
put her through warm up exercises to become more flexible so she could
do the splits like I could. Not bad for an old lady of forty
something! Now I'd settle for being forty again and know what I know
now! And the time she, mind you, a little Mennonite lady, saw a black
Santa Claus standing outside a Piggly Wiggly and the look on her face
was incredulous! "Everybody knows Santa Claus isn't black!" Were her
very words, as sure as I'm sitting here and as serious as ever she had
been. She was a hoot!
It's so wonderful to learn of my cousin's family, how many children
she has and how well she and her husband are doing, and it's a great
feeling to know I'm from such <wink>... good stock. It touched my
heart when Carol told me that she'd named her only son Larry
Christian, after her brother who passed away when we were barely five
and her father, my dad's oldest brother, whose middle name was
Christian. "Gramma" got the name from our great grandfather, Christian
Gingrich Buerge; a minister in the Mennonite church many years before
Carol and I were born but living with Gramma, I heard a lot of stories
about him and his generation.
As long as I can remember anything I will never forget Carol climbing
up and bending way down into the casket to give her brother a kiss
good-bye and though the impact of the moment didn't hit me until many
years later, it has never left my memory.
I always looked forward to having Uncle Wilfred's come up because we
could torment Marcia and I had a GIRL to play with! Carol! With twin
brothers around to constantly torment ME, I finally had not only an
outlet but an ally! Sorry Marcia. I'm all growd up now and wouldn't
think of harrassing you now.
The trips to Ohio to see them were equally exciting! THEY had a
televison...! and a game called Cooties.......! and a 45 record with
Alvin and the Chipmunks singing their Christmas songs, and the neatest
closet in her mom and dad's bedroom that we could crawl through to get
to a different part of the house, in the event we were trying to
escape the boys, Brad and Jody. Who'd have thought years later Jody
would be adopted by Aunt Betty and he would become my cousin?
And there are more, Marcia, Bonita and Roseanne, Jerry, Jim... I am
awaiting Bonita's safe return from the Big Sur so we can do some
serious catching up a well! I can hardly wait, and to tell her I love
her!
Naomi Hinshaw-Hersh
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