Goodbye to my Party Pig Mentor

I lost my aunt Sandra yesterday. She had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the early spring this year. In fact, they had said, when it was finally deemed terminal,around June, that we had 3 to 5 weeks left with her. HA! Boneheads....they didn't know the steely will of Sandra. My mom worked on some words for her eulogy today, and faxed it to me for proofing...I didn't find one misspell, Sandra is working from beyond already.
She was the quintessential wife and mother. I used to dig going to stay at their house as a kid, because there was this whole COUNTER full of junk crap to eat. Cookies, no less than 3 kinds usually. Candy. Homemade stuff, at least 2 types.cake, pie, whatever....junk. If I'd grown up in that house, instead of visited, I would no doubt weigh 300 pounds and have a pronounced case of diabetes today, I'm sure. I was over there a couple of weeks ago and had the munchies...and went to the beloved crap counter...it was seriously lacking. There was something in a ziploc that looked like chocolate. It turned out to be Beggin Strips for the dog. DAMMIT. The hell? There is not supposed to be any less than 5 kinds of chocolate on that counter at any time! But thats because she was unable to keep the supply rolling. (She was NOT , however, unable to laugh at me for thinking Beggin Strips were chocolate something or other.) (SHUT UP, it was dark in there!!) Happy to provide another laugh, Sandra. hee.

I was seriously worried about my mom when this came down at first. This is not her actual sister, they were best friends from high school, and closer than sisters. And fought like gladiators like sisters. And disciplined each others kids like sisters. I didn't know how she was going to take this, but she surprised me ten fold. I've never seen her quite that strong in my life. She's been through rough stuff before, but this was undoubtedly rougher, i think. She buckled down and did the stuff that had to be done, and did it with more love than I thought possible. She usually cries openly if something is wrong, but we didn't see it much throughout this ordeal, she just soldiered on...as strong people do. I hope she understands how strong that makes her, because I don't know if she knows that....she always thought Sandra was the tough one. ( I know you'll read this, Mom, and I know you'll cry, but stop it, seriously. lol)

So anyway, memories of Sandra....

PARTY PARTY PARTY....the ultimate party thrower, you didn't walk in without being offered a cocktail after 5, 3 on the weekends...for some reason that always reminded me of Bewitched...they were always having cocktails after 5, lol. I had a mole removed when I was about 18, I think...Mom and Sandra took me to their favorite hotel bar for drinks afterward. (was that a celebration? what the hell was that about?) Whatever...I felt like an accepted member of the grownup girls club that day, even though they were probably just trying to ease my pain. lol

HOLIDAYS...these little Pumpkin candles she had for Halloween, one on each stair by the railing. And the best candy...no damn candy corns coming out of her house...only the good stuff. and FOOD...whoa, the spread she would put out for 7 people on Christmas. You weren't really hungry by dinner due to all the appetizers. I blame her to this day for my appetizer weakness. Bring me ALL the finger foods.

DISCIPLINE...Now, here's where it gets odd...I don't remember being discipined much by her as a child. She had 2 boys. MEAN OLD BOYS. OK, so they weren't really mean, especially not Scott, but in comparison to them, I had to look like a golden child. Boy that slipped like hell in high school and beyond. LMAO! When I was about to be talked to, I was told "Chantal, SIT DOWN!" I knew it was about to open up there. Many times I was already sitting, that didn't matter, the lecture began with SIT DOWN. I was a good 5 inches taller than she the last time I was told to SIT DOWN, and I did it anyway. :

BOYS AND DATING....I have a vivid memory of her and my mom trying to douse the relationship between my high school boyfriend and I when i was 18. I think they gave me some drinks that night too, lol. It needed dousing, trust me, but at the time, I didn't see that. She and my mother catered an amazing wedding for my Ex husband and I, although if shooting a pellet gun at people for sport were legal , I think she would have had a grand time with him. She would have been most pleased with who I'm seeing now, he's ultra lovable and polite and every bit as smart assed as she, they could have hung, big time.

AN ANGEL, NOT A BABY! I was the first born amongst the 2 women. And this was her proclamation upon seeing my fat fat fat fat face. I would pull this line out on occasion...sometimes in the middle of SIT DOWN time, and it just doesn't work anymore when the angel is getting grey hairs and wrinkles. Hee. She would say I was so quiet as a child...'scary quiet' she called it once. Bet she missed that later on.

So, thats some of Sandra...I will miss her more than words can say, but I feel she's still with us. If I ever have the sudden urge to sit down when I've overstepped my bounds...I'll know for sure. I love you, we'll keep the party going, and I hope I make you proud.