Saturday, February 16, 2013

To a Southern Lady...

My Aunt Janie is in Heaven!
 I say that with excitement but the feeling of sadness has not yet left me or my family. You see, Aunt  Janie was not a typical lady, in fact sometimes she was most unladylike :) She was the Life of the Party.....always. She said inappropriate things at inappropriate times which left you in stitches. She wasn't bound by rules of propriety, she broke them quite on purpose but she was a fine Southern Lady.
She LOVED her family. I mean LOVED. She loved her God and we all loved her. She could sniff out a good thrift store or yardsale miles away! She had great eclectic tastes.

When we found out over 7 years ago that she had cancer, we wept and pleaded with the Lord to give her years to stay with us. The Lord answered our pleas and gave us years more with her than the Doctor expected. Our family will change.... it will be fine but it will change. Instead of sitting around listening to Aunt Janie tell stories, we will now all sit around and tell stories ABOUT Aunt Janie. " Remember the time when she almost killed us all riding the gator....." Yeah, those were good times.

She is now seeing the face of Jesus! I can think of nothing better.

I REST MY CASE :)




She had this poem posted above her kitchen sink. She was never old to us but was already living this out...

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples' gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickles for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.




4 comments:

kareng said...

She was a good learner about the things of life that count. I am sure that because of her,you have learned that from her as well! Sorry for your loss,happy for her gain. Will be praying for you all during this time.

Amy said...

She sounds like such a fun aunt! I'm so sorry for your loss. But you are right. There is NOTHING better than seeing Jesus- EVERY MOMENT FOR FOREVER!!!!

Kristin Ferguson said...

Someone told me once that our tears are for us because they certainly aren't for the loved one who passes into Jesus' arms! She sounded like one heck of a fun lady! Wish I could have met her. I'd learn to spit properly with her!

JennyJohnson said...

Amen.
And don't forget, she is with Grandaddy Johnson and her little baby that we never got to know.
Hallelujah!
Mommy