Sisters

It was one of my mum's younger sister's funeral today. I knew her well when I was a kid, but rarely saw her in more recent years.
Although I wanted to go, I'd not made the necessary alternative plans to get the little man home from school, which would have enabled me to leave in good time to get to the service. This morning, I decided I would go regardless. The predicted journey time was an hour. After the school run, I had 50 minutes to get there. I guessed I'd be sneaking in during the first hymn.


My Auntie Carol always had an air of superiority over her sisters, and anyone else I suppose; whatever it was, she could always have it, or do it, better.
It would have amused mum to know that even though I arrived late, Carol was even later.
So I managed to hear the whole service and learn some things about her that I never would have known as a kid.
I'm so pleased I got there, not least because I saw another special aunt. My mum and her were inseparable, having grown up as evacuated children during the war. We often had holidays together as two families. She misses my mum terribly (as we all do), and carries these words with her everywhere she goes. The note was sent to her by mum about 7 years ago, not long after my dad died.
I also chatted with my cousins who I've not seen for years and we recalled old fun times we had over 50 years ago.
Together, we became acutely aware of our own mortality. Such is life.