This beautiful lady definitely represents the forties. A strong woman who survived The Great Depression through determination for survival. She possessed the highest quality of elegance, loved everyone, and most of all, everyone loved her. Her passion was being around many people. This lady in spirit always - is my Guardian Angel which she had always professed to be. She is my lovely aunt, and miss her terribly even after 1990 when she passed This a special tribute and memorial to her, if only I had the ability to express fully my love for her. My humble words will never fully divulge the true expressions of her life in this world. God was her understanding holy being.
During the forties were undoubtedly her happiest years of her life. She met a handsome Colonel where she worked in the Pentagon. Their romance was ever great. She waited in marriage until they could be together after his service with the Army had ended.
I do not recall the year they eventually married, during the mid-forties at sometime. They had a long honeymoon traveling in Europe and places in the States. They certainly deserved it. They had both been employed all of their lives, until their wonderful honeymoon. The post cards flowed freely with happiness regarding their travels. Their happiness was over flowing.
When they settled in a home purchased, my aunt immediately enrolled in cooking school courses - ha. Needless to say, she needed to because she cooked very little during her life. I presume that he may have suggested it also :>) Was very interesting to visit them. They were organized with the rigors of military style actions in every way. For example, when arising in the morning the routine was - he headed for the bathroom with his toothbrush held high in the air, stating "toast down" and her replying "toast down" and scurrying around in the kitchen. I found this a little comical; however, I dared not even smile or laugh, of course. They were extremely serious concerning their stern regime in life. He had served in the Army a long period of time, and she had always worked in Civil Service employed by the Army. It was, of course, an inborn habit of theirs. I respected them for that, even though I had taken a light-hearted approach.
Unfortunately, their bright happy days were not long together. He had a severe heart attack and passed within five years of their marriage. You can well imagine how difficult it was for her. He was her only life. She spent the next few years writing memoirs about her husband, donating objects and monetary items in his name, etc. She was devastated in losing him, this seemed to assist her along the way in living her life without him.
Eventually she discovered a new ability. She seemed to be affluent with the wisdom of investments and the stock market. She insisted on investing and making these decisions herself, because as she stated , "I am capable of reading and understanding, as well as any stock broker". And indeed she could. She possessed a high degree of intelligence, and everything flowed together with ease for her. She was ecstatic with her abilities. She reasoned that, "My father had a dream to become a millionaire, he was never able to because of the stock market crash. " Her ambition was to realize her father's dream. She did - and then some. She caused his dream and hers, to become effective.
This classy lady whirled into high society, was entered into the "blue book" and accomplished another dream. She attended college. She graduated with a degree at the age of 73 years.
When her life was brimming over again with enthusiasm over the purchase of a new home, things changed for the worst. Only a few months after moving, while talking on the phone, she had a stroke. One second she was bubbling with excitement during a conversation, the next second she was on the floor. Thankfully, the lady she was talking to called an ambulance; however, the damage had been done, and was irrevocable.
Needless to say, when I received the phone call that evening rushed immediately to make flight arrangements , and went to the hospital. My heart sank when I saw her lying there. I could not believe it. Here was this beautiful loving person, who now could not speak, stand up, walk, or understand what was going on in her life. And, nothing could be done, she had an inoperable blood clot in the middle of her brain, was advised. Her life had changed in a second.
Later, I left my position out of state, and moved where she lived to care for her. I could not possibly imagine doing anything else. We lived with what we had available, and enjoyed one another's company to the fullest, while we could. Eventually, it was discovered that she had Alzheimer's, a disease which is much worse than death itself, believe it.
Remember this beautiful lady of the forties, she would like that very much. She possessed a high degree of caring for others, and loved most everyone. She lived during hard times and changed it around to good times. She and her husband are together now. Send a kiss of love to them.
As for me, I will always miss my Guardian Angel for as long as I live. However, am smiling, because I can still hear her saying in a singsong fashion,
"I AM YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL YOU KNOW"
