She was my "second" mom. I haven't seen her since July 2007 when my wife and I visited Missouri for the last time as my mother sold her property to move to Japan.
I did have a chance to talk to her in the hospital after she fell and broke two of her ribs on October 19. She suffered a stroke and that led to her passing. The orders were DNR. I had one of my cousins hold up his phone to her ear as I said, "Thank you, Aunt Pearl, for being my second mom. I love you." My cousin said that she mumbled that she was going to see my father. That is when I knew it was time for her to go. It was a matter of time.
I vividly remember as a child the day I saw my aunt with a handful of chickens in each hand as she held them by the feet and stepped on their heads. Seeing those chickens "fly" without heads was "traumatic" to a 5-year-old. But they were sure good eating though!
I remember the visit to the farm, the camping, the fishing in the slough and ponds, the slopping of the hogs, waking up in the morning to the smells of farm life, the laughters, the smiles, the good times.
I remember during the Christmas holidays, of all of the family gathered to eat Christmas dinner and then open up the mountain of gifts under the tree. She was a giving lady and loved all those who were either family or friends.
I am sure she and my dad are fishing Up There. And after the fishing, she will probably cut a rug with Uncle J every Saturday Night in heaven.
She married my Uncle J in May 1944. He passed away in December 2009. She lived in the same house for over 70 years. How many of us to lay claim to that? Now, those are "roots." Together they raised four sons: Barry, the oldest, then Steve, then Roger, then Terry. Terry passed away in October 2011.
She leaves behind three sons, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. That is a life well-lived.
My wife and I will miss the cards she would send us to wish us a happy birthday and Merry Christmas. I would call her on her birthday to get caught up in all of the news "back home." I promised I would call her more often, but I did not keep that promise.
I will miss her dearly.
Goodbye, Aunt Pearl, I love you. I wish there were phones in Heaven.
The following are the lyrics to Luke Bryan's song, "Drink a Beer."
"When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say.
So I just hung up the phone.
I took a walk to clear my head,
This is where the walking led
Can't believe you're really gone
Don't feel like going home
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
So long my Aunt
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to...
... sit right here on the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Drink a beer,
Drink a beer.
Yeah
