AUNTS...

I failed in my search to find a fun quote about "Aunts." I think this may be the first time google has ever failed me. I am guessing there just aren't that many quotes about them, which is a shame as they are rather important people in many lives. So, instead, I'll share a brief dialogue between my Aunt Colleen & me the other day...maybe it's a "you had to be there" story--but it still cracks me up. As Sophia on The Golden Girls would say "picture this..."
It's almost midnight & my Great-Aunt Colleen & I are sitting on the sofa, trying to carry on intelligent conversation, while tuckered out from our day!
Aunt Colleen: You know that place....you know that place out there...
Me: (utterly confused)---ummm...I think you'll have to narrow that down a bit
Aunt Colleen: You know that place (and she points in some direction)...out there...with the things?
Me: adding the word "things" to your description, isn't really helping me?
Aunt Colleen: Those military things...out there...out west in Iowa...near Johnston, no in Johnston....yea, in Johnston, what's the name of it?
Me: (sitting silently now, trying to contain my laughter, now completey aware of what
she is trying to say, but having too much fun watching her figure out the name
to interrupt her confusion)
Aunt Colleen: (looking more flustered with every second) You know that military thing out there...has the planes & things & you know, Uncle Rex used to have to go out there for the National Guard duty...oh, what in the hell am I thinking of????....
Me: (finally feeling bad she was rattling her brain so hard--and with a laugh) Camp Dodge
Aunt Colleen: You knew what I was talking about all along, didn't you?
Me: Oh yeah, but it was too fun to watch you struggle for the word
Aunt Colleen:(with a smile on her face) BRAT
Me: oh yea, but so worth it....

I am seeing lots of "silver linings" lately...of course I am not enjoying my "sick time" but am realizing that good really does come out of bad. Since I haven't been able to do much and don't have the usual gusto of energy I am normally equipped with, I am hesitant to travel or to go out without someone with me. It, however, has given me some wonderfully opportunities with my family. It seems that several times a week, I have been able to go and barge in on my Uncle Jim & Aunt Colleen (my gpa's brother & sister-in-law). Uncle Jim works almost all day...that man has to be busy (it runs in the family), so Aunt Colleen and I have taken off a few times to do fun things or to go harass other relatives or babysit her grandkids. Yes, we have a difference in age, but we have so much fun. One of the joys of big families is you get used to having fun with all ages...I love it!! We find ourselves analyzing the problems of the world, which is hilarious as we are quite different in our political beliefs!!! ;0) I've always been close to my great-aunts & uncles--don't know why, just have---but this "down" time has given me an opportunity to really spend time with them, without having a million things to do, or just over lunch, or be packing on my way back to KC. My conversations with Aunt Colleen have been wonderful & I have learned so much about her & as cheesy as it sounds, I really think we've grown closer & I am so very grateful!!! See...I guess having this time where I am more available than I have ever been is good for my healing body...my mind...and my soul! So, I am going to soak it up! ;0) Family really is everything---without it, nothing matters!

Tomorrow is Memorial Day...Dad has grand plans for me, get crap together for a garage sale--gee...I can hardly wait! ;0) I am anxiously awaiting my doc appointment on the 2nd--if they don't have answers for me---you'll see the smoke--coming from my ears! They are wonderful & I have the best, but everything takes so long--I'm a McClaflin, waiting is not in our genetic make-up!

Until then...I shall enjoy the trips to the park with Aunt Colleen, driving 30 miles for homemade Sherbet...the fun continues...just not at the usual pace!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend...

Picture: Aunt Colleen, Uncle Jim, & Me at a family wedding last summer