nsrii @ 2007-05-25T22:18:00

2038-01-19T03:14:07Z

I found out yesterday that my Aunt Delores passed away. I honestly didn't think I'd be that affected by her death, since there had been some choices she made in her life recently that made me sad and made me realize she didn't have much time left. Gwynn called me at work to tell me that my brother Terry had called, followed by the obligatory "There's something bad I need to tell you" pause, I instantly thought something terrible had happened to my brother Tommy.

She told me that Delores was dead and that she didn't know how. I said something like, "That too bad" and "Damn, that sucks." When I hung up it hit me. I almost cried at work, I had to go outside for a walk. The more I thought about her, the more I smiled, which I think says volumes about the woman.

Delores was an amazing person. She was completely crazy, insanely artistic, and more generous than someone with her personality should probably be. She was the kind of woman that would say things just to make people uncomfortable, but she could do it in such subtle ways that people laughed at being laughed at.

My mom used to tell me the story that when the two of them were younger and poor, Delores would put on a gag breast plate and go to the bars, where Delores would offer to let men touch her fake boobs for drinks. Apparently they rarely had to pay for drinks.

When I was little and just learning to talk, she'd point out old ladies at the store and tell me to go tell them that they were a "fucking bitch." Not knowing any better I'd walk over tug on the old lady's skirt and say, in an innocent voice, "You're a fucker bitch!" They'd smile and tell Delores how cute I was and without missing a beat, Delores would smile and thank them and start a casual conversation about how terrible kids are today.

_{Delores holding me after she used eyeliner to make my dad's mustache and sideburns.}

We'd get care packages from Delores as we moved from place to place. She never really bought me things, she made me things. This was back in the 70s and 80s, before DIY projects were a google search or television channel away. I still have a little piggy shaped cutting board she made my mom. She built me a wooden, brown carpet covered, horse on caster wheels that I used to ride around on. That thing lasted for years.

_{My mom and I on the horse that Delores made me}

One of the last times we spoke was shortly after my mom passed away, she was the only aunt that tried to keep in touch with me. She asked how I was doing and told me that if I ever needed anything to call, even though we both knew I was too proud to ask for help. Two weeks later I got a card from her telling me that I was always welcome to stay with her, inside the card there was a check for $100. In typical Delores fashion the delicately written 'For:' memo read: "Penis enlargement surgery."

I could go on and on about the memories, but I'll spare you all and just say that she was my favorite aunt and I'm going to miss her, even though it's been over a decade since I last saw her.

pools and pools of leaves

nsrii @ 2007-05-25T22:18:00