Ode to my Aunts

So, I find myself , here at Christmas, wandering down Old Memory Highway. Feeling a wee bit nostalgic. Longing for the "good old Days" when families actually had time for each other.
My Aunts were a big part of my childhood,a special part. Each contributed in their own way to my unique , distinctive personality. (of which I am very proud, I revel in my "uniqueness")
Aunt Patsy , the oldest, gave me my first set of Louisa May Alcott hardback books, which I read over and over. (still do!) They, along with my Breyer horses, were my most treasured childhood possessions. She made Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy forever a part of my family. Nothing is as valuable a gift to a child as a love for books. She also taught me to stay calm in the face of emotional upheaval, be it job related or family issues.
Ever the happy, giggly one, Aunt Peggy made me strive to develop my artistic side. She has this dormant talent for painting that fascinated me as a child. I could never draw or paint that well, but that's OK, I have learned to develop my own style as a painter, to express my turbulent feelings on canvas or paper , instead of letting them boil over and crate anxiety. Aunt Peggy needs to revisit her talent , it should not be wasted.
Fashion is important to me. Not so much fashion trends, but having my own sense of style . Aunt Wanda has always been true to her own "look". I have never seen her less than immaculately groomed and dressed. She,like I, believes that age is a number only, not a guide for dressing. You'll never hear me say "I am too old to wear that". Aunt Wanda accomplishes a trendy, yet always classy look without looking like an aged Britney Spears (Quel horreur!!)
"Fun" was always Aunt Kathy's motto. We had the best times at her house spending the night. I vividly remember turning off all the lights and playing " boogers"...a kind of spine tingling Hide and Seek in the dark. BB Guns, potato chips, and all night games were allowed in her house. Have you ever peed you pants from laughing ? I have, and it was at Aunt Kathy's house.
We are the sum of our experiences, our goals and dreams, and our families, and I am proud to say that my family has always encouraged me to be just who I am: an individual with a well developed sense of "me". A person who is not afraid to try new things , to express my feelings, to say "no" to social norms if they don't fit my goals. I am Who I Want to Be ......finally !!!