Barbara, the second sister

I am up this Sunday morning trying to come to some realization about how my life has changed over the last month. I have lost my mother and yesterday lost my aunt Barbara, the last of three wonderful ladies who affected my life in so many ways.

My mom's two sister virtually raised me as I was the first grandchild and born on January 1. I broke the mold of what they expected in grandchildren beginning the trail of some 18 more to follow. My aunt Barbara was the youngest of mother's sister only 7 years old when I was born, and mom said she had a 'built in' baby sitter in my sweet aunt Barbara.

Barbara or Bobbie as I as I called her taught me so many things. She was there at birthdays, playdays (or that is what they call them now) when kids all got together on the huge lawn some 120' across and 180' deep to play at 513 Alice Street and romp and do all the things kid did outside back in the 40's. She taught me to tommersault (sp.), to stand on my head, and yes, even how to dance.

The 40's were the big band era and as a little kid, listening to Glenn Miller and dancing to "little brown jug". I never really learned to do the jitterbug or the waltz very well but enough that when I was a teenager, I could dance with a young lady with some confidence that I knew what I was doing. Thank you my sweet aunt Bobbie for teaching me to dance and the wonderful friends she introduced me to in my young life.

Meeting friends and adults older than you as a a preteen and being comfortable doing that was taught to me by Bobbie early on. I am part of who I am today thanks to her sweet and friendly ways drawing people to her like no one I had ever seen. I really never developed that kinship but learned how to make friends by being a friend and I taught that to my children based on what Bobbie taught me in my younger years.

One of my boys, Christopher was born on his great aunt Barbara's birthday May 2nd. We began again another generation of aunt Barbara loving and affecting a young childs life. Oh, she began with Jason, my older son, and she was there to love them and cook for them and was so much like their grandmother Midgie, she filled in quite nicely. Both my boys are hurting so this morning, the day after Bobbie went to be with her sisters Midgie and Leona in Heaven. There were other angels there to greet her, her husband Jack, Walter, Momee, Grandaddy, J. B., Asheigh, Jason Chrisawn, and so many others.

Laurie said something to me on the parking deck when Karen and I walked up to the entrance to the hospital. She said her mom had gone and "I guess Midgie was lonesome". Here two sisters break heaven wide open not 30 days apart and how sad we are but how glad the heavenly host are to have this additon to the our promise given us by the Lord. "In my place, there are many mansions....". The heaven I preceive in my minds eye is glorified now with this young lady now a glorious part..... "and she is teaching them how to dance!" I can hear the music now...... and it is Glenn Miller Live!....Listen!
Jeff N.