The Little Farm House on the Hill
As a little girl it seemed as though the frequent weekend drives took forever to get to Auntie’s home. It was hard to contain my excitement knowing that eventually I would be walking into a home filled with love and into the arms of someone who always made me feel special and that I mattered.
Butterflies would begin to flutter in my stomach at the first sight of seeing the little farm house on the hill. The fluttering would only get stronger when I would finally see Auntie running from any given direction to make sure she was there to welcome everyone who piled out of the Volkswagen Beetle to visit with her. Her body language along with her smile that went from ear to ear told us all, without even uttering a word, that she was just as excited to see us as we were to see her.
We knew that as we entered her home that it wasn’t our home. But Auntie had a way of making everyone who walked through her door feel as though the little farm house on the hill was your home too!
Spending time with Auntie if it were only for a day, weekend or for the two amazing summers I stayed with her were gifts that are mine to treasure. Returning to school after those two particular summers, my school friends would brag about their vacations to places like Disney World. They never quite understood how this city girl could be so excited about visiting a little farm house on the hill located in Fisher Branch, MB. Being so young, I too, found it difficult to explain why this place was so special to me. All I knew was that every time I went to visit, I felt that Auntie’s home was my own magical kingdom where dreams could come true. My friends could keep their memories of meeting Mickey Mouse and the whole gang but I knew I had something much more special and real. I had Auntie. We all had Auntie.
As I grew older and when all my sisters and brother would reminisce about all their special times with Auntie, I quickly realized that Auntie’s love was not only reserved for me. My siblings have their special memories of times spent with this amazing woman. Auntie’s incredible gift and legacy that she leaves behind was her ability to make EVERYONE feel special and loved.
Every time we will think of borscht, puffed wheat cake, lemon meringue pie, donuts, BANANA’s, looking for a pair of lost contact lenses in slop pails, Hola, Guts, Bingo, Spoons, chicken coops, stones & rocks, gardens, flowers, riding lawn mowers or summer kitchens we will also remember our Auntie who lived in the little farm house on the hill and who loved with every part of herself, how her whole body jiggled when she laughed, how she never had a bad thing to say about anyone or how she always looked into your eyes when she spoke to you or took the time to sit down and really listen to whatever you had to say whether you were a child or an adult. We will never forget you Auntie because it’s impossible to forget those who gave us so much to remember.
Eulogy for my Aunt Doreen (my mentor) – 1919 – 2012.
Tags: Friends/Family, Gratitude/Thankful, Inspiration, Love