Early Call

When Herself was a child, the ringing of the telephone at an unseemly hour - very late, or very early - was a grim portent. Usually, it was a report that one of the various aged relatives on her father's side of the family had fallen gravely ill.  Her parents would hurriedly pack a suitcase, including their somber garb for the inevitable funeral, and would call her grandmother to come and care for her and her siblings.  It was a part of life for everyone she knew - that phone call.  

Today, it was the 'ping' from her telephone indicating that an e-mail had arrived quite early, that was the harbinger.  Herself has several e-mail addresses:  a work address; a general/public address; and a more private address that she limits to very few contacts, including close friends and family.  This morning's tone was for that private address. Herself looked at the subject line:  Sad news. Oh, no.

Her father's brother's wife - Aunt M - had a severe stroke last night.  Aunt M had a few minor strokes before, but this one was clearly different.  When Herself called her parents, both of them separately said quite plainly, "It doesn't look good."  Oh, no.

The hardest part was hearing the description of what transpired:  how Aunt M had woken up with a bad headache; how Uncle S had helped her to the bathroom, and then gone to call 911; how when he returned 30 seconds later, she was slumped over; how he propped her up on a pillow and waited for the ambulance; how the firefighters arrived, and then the ambulance crew; and finally, how she was transported off to the hospital. 

Herself can imagine far too plainly the fear and pain of those few minutes.  Terrible.

Now, as she sits and waits for the next phone call or e-mail, she thinks about Aunt M and Uncle S.  She regrets not being a better niece and keeping in more regular contact with them.  She worries about how Uncle S, who has been married to Aunt M for sixty-five years or so, will fare without Aunt M. She considers her parents who, though they are 10 years younger than Aunt M and Uncle S, are not at all young themselves.  How long will it be before they are all faced with further calls? 

She remembers one time, thirty-five or more years ago, when she, her siblings and her parents visited her father's extended family, including Aunt M and Uncle S.  Towards the end of the visit, Aunt M and Uncle S took her to one side and presented her with a small marble figurine.  It was a girl, head modestly held low, hands folded.  They told her it reminded them of her.  Herself was touched - it was so lovely, and she, such a homely, awkward little girl, was thrilled that such a beautiful item could remind anyone of her. 

Godspeed, Aunt M. If now is your time, your ancestors will welcome you home with open arms. We will keep you in our hearts, always.

Update:  Aunt M passed away at 3:15 this same day.  Rest in peace, Aunt M.