Thursday, May 30, 2024
It's taken me a number of days to single out a few memories of "Auntie Jake". I'm so very fortunate to have years worth of memories.
Our families were very close in Kitimat in the 60's and 70's. We spent a lot of growing up time with each other.
Some of my earliest memories involved Auntie Jake, Cheryl, Myles and Cameron...and Auntie Jake's cooking. I couldn't have been much older than 4 or 5 when I had my first taste of borscht that she made. I've been chasing that taste for a life time, and have never found one even close.
I also remember staying with them when I was very young. Health issues in my family made trips to Vancouver quite frequent for a few years, and Auntie was always ready to take us in. I remember well the "side ways glance, or full on glare" that she had when someone messed up! While I was never on the recieving end (she was always so kind to me), I would gulp and back away...as did the recipient, and small animals for miles around! Lol
I remember her sense of humor so well. One summer when Cheryl and me were very young teenagers, we took the train together to visit our grandparents. I was going to Jasper and Cherl was traveling with her little brother to Saskatchewan to visit their family. As we were about to board the train I remember, I remember Cheryl saying to her Mom "what if he falls down and breaks a leg". Aunt Jake said "call a vet". Cheryl and Cameron didn't find that as funny as me, but we sure ended up having a fun trip!
I was always in awe of my Auntie. She was absolutely a feminist and someone I wanted to be like.
I will always remember her with awe, but also with the most securely loved feelings.
Well done God when you made Auntie Jake, and forever thanks for bringing our lives together.
