RIP Joan
My Great Aunt died this afternoon.
My father not long ago called and told me. There's no details yet - her husband is getting all the phone calls out of the road before he calls the close family mack with more info - and i imigine he's taking his time over that. I'm sad, but i'm not upset, if you know what i mean. She's had a bad run the last few years - major arthritis, two strokes (one two years ago, the other about a month), a broken hip...but her head has stayed together through all of it. So she's not in pain anymore, and didn't spend any time either a vegetable or senile (which is exactly what she would have wanted).
She was one of the most with-it ladies i know, if a little old fashioned (which you expect, given her age). I love her very much. She's my grandmothers younger sister, and I've been told that when i was little i asked her why she couldn't be my grandmother instead :)
Sometimes when i look at my daughter when she's smiling i can see Joan's smile there - a cheeky little grin with a glint in her eye. I have a feeling i'm raising a 'Joan in training' - so i'm probably in for some trouble later, but that's ok.
For the last year or two she's had a walking-frame-on-wheels (if you get what i mean). I asked her if i could add a little engine and a trailer, and she could take me for rides. Her only response was to tell me off because it likely wouldn't go fast enough.
Joan, i'm glad you're finally at rest. I'll miss you terribly, but i know that you're happy wherever you are.
All my love to you, and to your family that you've left behind.