Well, yesterday the world lost a bright and sweet lady. It is my Aunt Chris. Also known as Yvonne. Although, I remember growing up as a child being completely confused by the whole Yvonne/Chris name thing.
Three years ago in November we lost my Uncle Pino. He was a fun loving man who was dedicated to not only his family but ours as well. Actually, his real name is Julian but we always new him as Pino. Again with the name thing :~)
So growing up we had two sets of aunts and uncles on my dad’s side. One was my Uncle Pino (I miss him and think about him often) who was married to my Aunt Diana (my dad’s sister). The other was my Aunt Chris who was married to my Uncle Tudy (my dad’s brother.
My Aunt Diana and Uncle Pino were more like second parents to my sisters and me. Our cousins (their children Marcie, Joey and Dina) were more like siblings than most I think. It seems like almost every weekend my sisters and I would be taken to National City for the weekend where we would stay with our Nana and Tata. Our cousins would come and we would spend the time together. Those were awesome times! I mentioned this to my mom a few years ago how we would go almost every weekend to Nat’l City, but she insisted we were not there as much as I remembered. I guess they were just really important times in my life so they take up a lot of space in my memories.
Uncle Pino could be a gruff person who could scare the pants off of you. But he was a kind and gentle man who loved deeply and dearly. When my dad and Uncle Tudy were off at war/military, it was my uncle who took on the “father” responsibilities for the family. I don’t expect that anyone asked him to do it, but he loved us and wanted to make sure we were okay. I remember when I had the mumps and had to stay and the National City house (I think we were living there at the time). I was so sick and for some reason was home by myself. I heard a truck drive up and the next thing I knew Uncle Pino was there with a plastic, squeezy Snoopy dog. He didn’t say much but I remember he brought it in, felt my forehead, asked if I was okay and then he was gone. Yep, he loved me. It’s funny how when you are a child and you grow up in a family like that, you just expect these people to be in your life and take care of you. You never really think about how they feel about it or how it evolved. All I know is that I am grateful for the bear of a man who loved me as his niece for all my life. He is a tremendous presence in my growing up memories. What a blessing!
Aunt Chris and Uncle Tudy lived their lives a bit differently then we did. I remember they were not in the physical picture as much as my other Aunt and Uncle. This made them special in a different way to me. We would see them on some weekends and on holidays and special days like baptisms and stuff. It was always fun when we got to see them. My cousins (their children Jeff, Jason, Jordon and Justin) were younger than me. Now that is not an issue but when you are little, that is an issue. That and the fact they were boys and were not interested in playing house and school with me. Not like Joey who loved playing school with me and handing out homework any time who could. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a correlation between then and his profession as a teacher now :~) Any, I don’t know if he loved playing school with me but I loved it. Back to the real story, we loved seeing our cousins. It was not an all the time thing so when it happened, we knew it was special.
My Aunt came to live with us in Oceanside when my Uncle Tudy and dad were overseas. Aunt Chris got to watch me when I was in Kindergarten. I remember she and my mom went on the game show “Let’s Make a Deal”. She went as I Dream Of Jeanie. She was perfect in that costume because she looked like Jeanie. She was always a beautiful lady, both inside and out. I remember her family was always involved in outdoor kind of sports. She was really active and seemed to support the men in her family in whatever they chose. She really loved her family. I remember I was at their house one time with my mom. I think some, if not all, of my sisters were there too. I was in the boys’ room playing with their Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars because I was banished from the family like room so the adults could do an activity. Well, being young and bored I wanted to see what was going on with the adults. Aunt Chris had gotten a “hypnosis” record and was playing it. I am sure I ruined the mood when I started laughing. I remember that Aunt Chris seemed to almost always be laughing or had a smile on her face. She was the type of person you just wanted to be around to soak up the positive energy of her existence. I am glad that she loved me and that she was my Aunt. I will miss her but will cherish her existence in my life and memories.
We are all products of our environment, memories, sense of humor, sense of self, and more. We are shaped by those we love and who love us. Next to my parents and my immediate family, I would have to say that my Aunts and Uncles play a huge part in the make-up of ME. I would like to express my gratitude to them for their roles in my life, for helping me to be me. For helping to give me the knowledge that I am a blessed and loved woman and will never want for the warmth of family. My thanks and my love.
