I don’t remember a time in my life without my Aunt Viv in it. She and my Uncle “Dudley” and their girls were who we waited for with great anticipation every Thanksgiving. It was a grand event when their little grey Volkswagen turned up the driveway at the farm. The girls would always arrive sleepy-eyed from the Dramamine they had to take to keep from getting carsick from the long trip on the winding roads of West Virginia. Grandma always sat in her chair in the front window of the dining room, just waiting to get her hands on two more grandchildren. My brother and I could hardly wait for our cousins to get there so we could have two more playmates.

Aunt Viv was the calm and steady background to the cacophony of children running rampant through the small farmhouse. She always had a smile on her face. She always loved on us. She sent greeting cards at every holiday. She played the piano for us when we visited her house. There were always warm hugs waiting at her door.

We didn’t have much money when we were growing up. I had friends and neighbors who “went to the beach” for summer vacation. I couldn’t even imagine what that was like. Our BIG summer vacation was going to visit my aunt and uncle on the other side of the state. It is only one-hundred sixty-five miles from here to there. But those are West Virginia miles. A good section of the trip is four-lane now and that cuts down a lot on the travel time. Back then, it could take six hours to get there. It was quite the event. Their first house was quite small and my brother would sleep on the couch while I bunked in with my two girl cousins…something I eagerly looked forward to since they were the closest thing I had to sisters. They were my first friends.

As an adult, I went to visit Uncle “Dudley” and Aunt Viv when I came to West Virginia. I called them at least once a month. Aunt Viv always answered the phone and we would enjoy a nice visit. Then, a few years ago, she stopped answering the phone. Dementia stole her away from us bit by bit. What a hateful, brutal disease. I have others in my family who have suffered similar fates…my father included. That concerns me when I can’t remember things. But I don’t “borrow trouble” by dwelling on it.

Today, we say goodbye to a good and faithful woman. While it is sad…always sad to see them go, there is relief she is free from her pain and in the arms of Jesus. I’ll see you again, Aunt Viv…some glad day. ❤️

“Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

Psalm 21:6 NIV