For as long as I can remember, "Aunt" Cindy was part of my life. She was my mother's best friend and seemed to always be around. She even lived with us for a time. She was the one who told me my brother, Stephen, had been born.
Cindy passed away several years ago. My mother would remember the exact day. I don't. What I do remember is that today is her birthday and since today is a VERY good day for me, it seems appropriate to celebrate this fine day when a beloved friend of my family was born.
Cindy wasn't just part of my young life, she was also a part of my own children's young lives. As a young mother with two very young children (prior to the birth of my third child), Cindy was a godsend. I would drop my two oldest at her place and literally disappear for HOURS to gain my sanity back. Being a stay-at-home mom is not the easiest mental job in the world and I had two children, born on the same day one year apart to care for. Suffice it to say, it wasn't easy and Cindy was always ready to help. One time when I did this, I went and had a perm on a whim. I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face when I came to pick her and her brother up! Cindy and I laughed and laughed over that for YEARS! =)
Cindy was also an avid quilter even though she suffered from terrible arthritis in her hands and throughout her body. She kept quilting until she just couldn't anymore. She made a wedding quilt for my 2nd husband and I, she made several quilts for my children, including baby quilts for each of them to have from the beginning of their lives.
It's because of Cindy that we ended up getting a dog when my kids were young. They were so used to staying at Cindy's and she had three dogs. The kids would come home and be bored with the lack of activity in the house. Their father and I finally succumbed and a pound adoptee, "Ginger", was added to the mix. When we brought Ginger home, Cindy was with us, helping out with the new dog, training us all.
Cindy's gone now and I can't call her to wish her a Happy Birthday today and to share my wonderful news, but I will celebrate her life and my happiness by remembering and sharing so that others will also know her and know that she was loved by me and my family.
Happy Birthday, Cindy! I love you!
- Krissy
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| Joyce on her baby quilt from Cindy |
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| Joyce & Patrick - Patrick is lying on his baby quilt from Cindy |
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| The wedding quilt Cindy made for Peter and I |
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| Cindy presenting Joyce with her Radio Flyer Tike Bike |
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| Cindy, Mom, Joyce and me in the hospital just after Patrick's birth |
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| Patrick with his dinosaur quilt from Aunt Cindy |
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My bridal shower when I married Peter (l to r):
Aunt Nancy (my mother's sister), Mom, Kathy (in background),
Michelle, Davene (in background), "Aunt" Cindy |
