Aunt Rosie

My sweet Aunt Rosie was put in hospice care right before I started my therapies with the Mayo Clinic.  Jim, me and my mom traveled to Aunt Rosie’s assisted living apartment about an hour northwest of our home to see her on March 16th. My brother, sister in-law and my sister typically help my mom with these types of things, but they were in Arizona taking a break from the Minnesota winter.   

When we arrived, Rosie was lying in bed and alert.  It was hard to understand some of what she said, but it was clear that she knew who we were.  My cousin, Terri arrived a short time later and said that the day prior Rosie slept the whole day.  We caught her at a good time.  We became aware that Rosie was on morphine.  She was moaning a lot when we got there, so I talked to the nurse and she said that when she sat with Rosie for a time that morning that she wasn't showing signs of grimacing or frowning from pain, so she determined Rosie was just verbalizing her feelings...that's how I understood it anyway.  

We know she will not have many more earthly days ahead of her.  While we were by her side, she was not very coherent most of the time and seemed to come in and out quickly.  I was grateful for the opportunity to be there to honor my sweet aunt and let her know that I love her. Indeed, my mom also needed our support as she was saying good-bye to her last living sibling.

Rosie was usually full of spunk and love for family.  She was a sharp dresser and had quippy sayings and responses.  She and my mom were children of the Great Depression.  At this time, these were the only two people in my life that I am aware of that have experienced the hardship of the that time in American history.  Rosie asked Terri at one point, “Who is that guy over there?! Jim was looking at the wall of family photos.  Terri said, “It's Jim, Grandma and Rosie weakly yelled, “Jim.  Get over here!”  Before Terri arrived, Jim had been talking to Rosie and holding her hand and then, one of her wisecracks came out, "I think I fell in love all over again."...lol...It made Jim's week and maybe month.

When we first arrived Rosie was saying, “Where is everyone?”  After Terri was there, she wouldn't let go of her hand and asked, "Where is Mary?”, Terry’s mom.  Teri said, “She is on her way.” and Rosie responded with one of her usual jokes "And so is Christmas."...lol. This was one of the brief moments where she said things that revealed the Rose we know. It is a good memory that I will tuck away until I see her again someday.

At one point, it seemed like she was asking why she hadn’t gone to be with Lord yet and why does she have to go through this.  She was speaking my language of late. I told her that God hasn't forgotten her and that she is on His radar.  My heart was breaking as I watched her frailness and listened to her desperation.  I kept calling her my sweet aunt.  It was from the bottom of my heart, and it seemed like those words were just overflowing and I could not stop saying them. In so many words, I told her that she gave us so much when we were kids without probably even being aware, just by way of the fact that she accepted us into her home and the cabin that my dad helped build and how it was a blessing to us.  She treated us as her kids.  It felt like part of my childhood was being ripped away as I realized she wasn’t long for this earth.  Rosie went to be with the Lord 5 days later.  I am so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to say good-bye. Until we meet again my sweet Aunt Rosie.