I have a lot of wonderful memories of Aunt Bobbie. Growing up I never knew she wasn’t my direct aunt. Everyone always called her Aunt Bobbie. That’s the way she was. She was Aunt Bobbie to everyone. And everyone loved her for it. I can remember many great times with her. What I can’t remember is ever seeing her without a smile because I am not sure she knew how not to smile. Her smile, her love, her personality was contagious. She just had an outlook and an attitude on life you rarely see these days. She loved everyone.
Anyone who knew Bobbie knew she was a highly emotional woman. I have never seen someone cry “happy” tears as much as her. If you hadn’t seen her in a while she would hug you so tight and just start crying. I can’t remember a time, as a kid or an adult, I didn’t get a hug without a tear or two from her. She sure knew how to make someone feel special.
Aunt Bobbie and I shared something great that I will forever cherish. We shared our passion in the Los Angeles Dodgers. I would talk to her about the current team and she would share her memories of all the past years she watched and followed the Dodgers. It was amazing for me to hear from her voice the same history that I had only read about. She was a true fan. Her passion for the Dodgers was not much different than her passion for life in general. With every baseball season that goes by, I will sit down on opening day, make a margarita, and think of her and smile.
Written by Ryan Shaw December 6, 2013