Today my aunt died.
Amy May Bond. Born 1919 in Northern Ireland. A land of beauty. And she was beautiful, a deep inner beauty not marred by negative thoughts or actions. She kept true to who she was all of her life, a kind and beautiful person.
She was the happiest of people, with the most beautiful smile and presence. She was kind to all. I have only met one person in my life who was ALWAYS kind and sweet. A lady who could find good in everyone. Just being near her you wanted to better yourself, to be more like her. What a smile she had. It could brighten even the gloomiest of moods. Just being near her was like breathing in sunshine. And now on the day she passes, here at least on the other side of the world the skies are overcast and rainy. No sunshine for us today, perhaps tomorrow.
George and Esther Bond raised 3 children (Edna and Edmund from a previous marriage) and Amy May. These 3 although separated by an ocean and thousands of miles would continue to write and stay close through the years. Letters and cards were very important.
My aunt wrote beautiful uplifting letters, she had a lovely penmanship, even into her old age her hand was steady as she wrote. My mother loved getting letters from her sister, it would cheer Mom up and she would read and re-read each letter. Each Christmas they would send each other calendars, a welcome package along with the news from each.
Amy came to visit a few years ago when Mom was so ill. She sat by my mother's bed and talked to her for hours about all the fun times they had when they were children. Then she would sit and talk to my Dad, he loved her visit because he missed her as well.
As I reflect upon her qualities I am brought to the thought that she was always grateful. And that gratitude was expressed. Once in an airport she couldn't find her passport and had others helping her to find it. Once found she would not just rush off to her gate, no she turned and walked back to those who had helped to thank them for their help and for their patience.
She loved to walk. She told me that she would walk with her friends for 10 miles, and this was in her 80's! She said that some in the group (the young ones in their 60's) wanted to walk further to loose weight. She told me that she did it once, but that was enough, she'd just go back to walking 10 miles! Oh what an inspiration she was!
I wish I could have been more like her. I am not. I see the gloomy side of things and at times have a short temper. Tomorrow when the sunshines again, I'll be reminded of her brightness, her beauty, her smile, her willingness to do for others, of the joy that she brought to others as they crossed her path. So many lives she touched, so many lives for the better because they crossed her path.
One door closes and another opens. I miss her already. She was the last rose of summer and has now gone on to join those who passed before.
