Some people come into your lives and never leave
They become a part of you.
My Sweet Great Auntie Beth was that person.
Today would of been her 98th birthday. We joked that we would see her picture on the Early Show announcing her 100th birthday by Willard Scott someday.
I'll just celebrate it every February 15th instead.
She always spoke the truth, said she could never "drink" because she was a "mean person when she did" and "being mean to others never served anyone well". She always "gifted to others" before herself, believed in "random acts of kindness" and never believed of doing for others for the sake of "getting recogition for it". She always served for her God and church and those in need and believed in always putting others needs ahead of her own. She had a sharp tongue when she thought others were spiteful or, oh dear when it was a Presidential Election Year, watch out. Never interrupt her during her nightly news where she obsessivly kept her weather stats or religiously watched Jeopardy.
She loved her Paul deeply and lost him to a car wreck soon after he returned from War. She never married again, and I know she wepted for him many a night she missed him. She always presented a "strong front" when we talked about him, but I could see it in her eyes that he was her soul mate and missed him so.
Summers with Auntie Beth were priceless. Whether it be learning the value of a dollar by learning to "earn money with chores", walks to the local library for my ration of weekly story books" or the endless arts and crafts to sooth my creative soul", summers were the best with what "summers were suppose to be".
She always bragged about "Daddy's Store". What I would of done to step 'back in time" to see inside of this store". The General Mercantile. She worked there growing up before she became a school teacher, working the "phone lines" in back.
My greatest gift is that she lived a beautiful, relatively pain free life to the ripe old age of 96 and she got to know my daughter Hannah. And Hannah her. It was always my fear that this would never happen as she was a gift to share.
Happy Birthday My Auntie Beth.
Feb 15, 1914- Mar 10th, 2009
