Aunt Helen and Aunt Krys flanking my Mother at her 90th birthday party.
I start every day by writing in my journal and the first thing I write is three things I am grateful for.
My gratitude extends to specific people, communities, things, emotions, activities, my environment and, no surprise to those who know me well, specific foods and beverages and the people who provide them. Last December I wrote a series of posts called Gratitude from A to Z. I write about gratitude every day so why not make a more public reflection on gratitude an annual event?
I am grateful for my aunts. My many great aunts who live in the misty memories of childhood with the exception of Great Aunt Agnes, my grandmother's youngest sister who was a central figure in childhood family gatherings. Aunt Nancy who is no longer with us but lives on in our memories. Aunt Mary, Aunt Marg, Aunt Helen and Aunt Krys.
I also have two aunts who are not aunts by the official definition - the late Aunt Agnes who was a close cousin of my father, and "Auntie Ann" who was my mother's university roommate and a close family friend all my life.
Each of my aunts is a very special and unique individual, and they have all had a positive impact on how I view the world. I have been fortunate to have exceptionally strong women as aunts in my life. They model strength of character as well as love, compassion and food as the magical glue that helps hold families together.
How have your aunts affected you?
photo credit: Krys Klassen