Aunt Alice by KM Wilsher

Aunt Alice passed away Monday November 3, 2008 very early in the morning. It took me a little while to be able to write about it.

Alice was named after her mother. Of four siblings, she was the last to join them in heaven. Alice’s youngest sister was my grandma, June. I loved Alice. As a child, we visited her and Uncle Mitch in Roswell, New Mexico; and all I remember was love, peace and joy. I am trying not to regret that our relationship in the past few years has been through an annual Christmas letter.

I have not lost many in this lifetime. My grandma June died when I was still in sixth grade and it was very, very traumatic for my sister and me. I still had nightmares and panic attacks in seventh grade over it. I will miss you, Grandma June,until that Day.

My family was not rich in treasure, but very rich in love and faith. My childhood family get togethers were a smorgasbord of love, joy, charity, and faith. We got together every holiday and many other times throughout the year. My Grandad, Aunt Alice’s brother-in-law, was a preacher. He planted four Churches -- that I can remember -- with his own two hands, he even assisted with most of the building construction. I know we were at each Church dedication, as a family. These are memories that keep me going sometimes. They tell me that heaven is wonderful. It must be, if times such as these happen on earth, what great joy we will find in heaven.

Alice, June, Hattie, and Gene did not grow up rich. They were some of the first settlers in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Their parents traveled a great distant to give them a home, a hope, and a future. They lived in harmony with, intermixed and intermarried with the Native Americans, the true people of our great land.

I don’t know much more about her. I know she is a fiber of my being and that she was truly important to me. I am not a scrapbook bunny. I don’t collect pictures or news clippings. I am a writer. I collect stories. Aunt Alice, this is for you. And yet, I am not done. I will find more of your stories. I will not rest until they are written. I promise you, I will pass on to the next generation, your legacy of Faith, hope, love, joy, peace and charity.

I love you. I’ll see when I get there.