"The Book of Me, Written by You" - Aunts and Uncles

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf

The prompt for the week is:    

Aunts and Uncles

The Brief:

• Did you have Aunts and Uncles?
• Did you know any of your Great Aunts and Uncles?
• Did you have people that you called Aunt and Uncle, yet there was no blood connection at all?
• In fact, does that even matter?
• So this week, tell us those about those people whose names appear within our family history and perhaps you even had a favourite or two?

Paternal Aunts & Uncles
My father was one of two children my grandparents had. His brother, my Uncle John, I grew up knowing and loving. Myself and my siblings all loved and looked up to our Uncle John and loved our Aunt Jenny.  We knew they loved us unconditionally. Unfortunately, once my grandmother passed in late 1980s, I never knew how to get into contact with them. No one ever gave me their address or phone number, so I knew about them, and my cousins, but never knew how to get in contact with them.

My uncle in his classroom during his teaching years.

Thankfully in the early 2000's, I was talking to one of my siblings and they mentioned them. I then asked them how to contact my Uncle and Aunt and they gave me their information. I wrote the information down and talked to my husband about contacting them. I did not know how they'd view me because I hadn't contacted them in so long, but decided to call them anyway to see what type of reception I got. Like always, the reception was loving and unconditional and we sat and talked for over an hour. Unfortunately, I had made time to see one of my nieces, so we had to leave. We were all very glad I had finally made contact and we all vowed we'd never loose contact again.

Sadly, my uncle passed away only 8 months later, in 2002. I always cherish the last visit I had with him and that we had reconnected after so many years.  We did make it back to the US for my uncle's funeral ceremonies, and for that my aunt and cousins were so very thankful for.

2002 Small family reunion - 1st cousin to my father (from Germany), My aunt and cousins, my father, and some of my siblings.

In fact, the one time I was pregnant, my aunt was going to come and help me with the new baby, but we "lost" the baby before it was due. It meant so very much to me, my aunt was willing to come from the US to Australia to help me.

Since then, I have always maintained contact with my Aunt and cousins, although we haven't had a chance to visit in person, we've always kept up with each other via email, Facebook and Christmas cards.

Each time we go to the US, we stop by my grandmother's grave to "visit" and then make a "visit" to my Uncle John.

Maternal Aunts & Uncles
My mother was one of 3 children to my grandparents. However, I never knew any of the family, at all, from that side. The sad part about it, is my mother won't talk about any of her family whatsoever, and I'm now wondering why. The last time I did try and get some information from her, she wouldn't talk to me for almost 2 months, so I know I won't be getting any information out of her unfortunately.

Great Aunts and Uncles
As for any great's within the family, there have not been many.

Aunt Honey

On my mother's side, there was a person we called Aunt Honey, which my mother mentioned every now and then when I was very young but then stopped talking about her altogether. There was never a mention of anyone else on that side of the family - ever.

On my father's side, I only know of my grandmother's brothers. One was never talked about very much, but the other I was told was a bad gambler and always called when he needed money. Also, he was wanted by the mob in NYC, and if I ever heard from him I was to hang up and not to listen to him. Recently (2014) I found one of the brothers was buried with his parents in NJ and the other one died of a heart attack in the south. Its sad that I never knew of either of these people.

Non Relational Favourites

There hasn't been many non relational people either. I do have a person we call Aunt Connie and I do go and visit her sometimes when are in NY. I know she was one of many people my mother used to visit and talk to when I was younger.

Another person, which I loved, was relational, but was my eldest sister mother in law - we always called her Ma though. She was great and was full of life. She loved her court room TV, the news, playing her "numbers" in the lottery. Unfortunately, she developed emphysema and later died of complications of it due to smoking cigarettes. I used to go over to visit, play cards, and talk to her. We all still miss her when she passed away in 2009.

Ma holding "court" at her bench.

  Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.