July 20, 2004

  • Today is the first day my uncle Ray is without his wife of 54 years.  My Aunt Glenna died last night.  They are bringing her home and she will be buried in our family cemetery.  My mom and Ray, Glenna’s husband, are twins, he’s not in good health and now I worry even more for him and the pain his death would bring to mom.  It’s a cold hard fact that he may not last long without my Aunt.  She was everybody’s mother and took care of you like you were her own.  They have four kids, my parents had four, and maybe because they are twins we grew up closer than cousins, more like sisters and brothers.  Glenna was always a presence in our lives.  Now she’s gone.  I was supposed to fly to St. Paul to meet up with Barry on Fri. it looks like that day will be spent on sadder terms than a husband and wife reunion.  When I do see him you can bet it won’t be with a jaded, 22 year married eye.  It will be with renewed appreciation of how lucky I am.  It will be with a sadness that only time can heal.  It will be with gratitude that I had people like Ray and Glenna to teach me the meaning of a loving marriage.