I was fortunate to be able to spend a good portion of my young life with Auntie Jackie…she baby sat me quite a lot.
And, when I was older I enjoyed spending summer days at the trailer with her, Aunt Germaine and Aunt Anita, playing "Trouble" for hours!
I remember going on trips with her to deliver Avon, and often times I'd find a small treat (tester lipstick, perfume) that she snuck in my purse for me, after I got home. She did this often, but infrequent enough that I never came to expect it.
She and the neighbour ladies would have coffee/tea together all the time, and instead of playing with all the other kids, I usually chose to sit at the kitchen table with them, just listening to them talk…and she'd tickle my back. (Something I love to this day!)
I remember her "saving" us all—from the snakes in the back yard. She got out a hammer and smacked them over the head…I remember thinking she was so brave. Aside from being the great protector, she had many other talents too, like knitting (in her sleep), poodle grooming and making things with a jig saw. She was very much a take charge kind of woman, but with the kindest heart.
Auntie Jackie also had a mischevious side, and I'm sure all of her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews experienced this fun-loving part of her.
As a kid, she pulled out a few of my teeth, somehow tricking me more than once that she "just wanted to look at it."
She put well more than one ice cube down the back of my shirt/dress/shorts. This brings me to my fondest new memory of Auntie Jackie, from the family reunion in July:
As I was preparing games to play, I went to the dollar store to pick up some of the items I needed. I came across some water guns, and thought I'd buy one for Auntie Jackie…I hadn't seen her in a while, but knew that her mobility was beginning to fail her—and I thought a water gun would be right up her alley. I gave it to her in private, wanting to be sure she could surreptitiously squirt people (she loved the element of surprise!) "What'll I do with that?" She said. I got busy helping Brad with all the family portraits, and noticed a little while later that my little cousin Chloe was playing with the gun. Ohwell, I thought.
A few days later my husband Gerry and I were talking about the reunion. I explained my story of the water gun to him, and my slight sadness that she didn't go in for the idea. For a brief moment I thought that her battle with cancer was perhaps to blame for the uninterest in my mischevious plan. Wrong! Her spirit was not dampened at all, in fact…my water gun idea as it turned out was just not her style! True to herself, I learned that she "initiated" Gerry into our family with an ice cube down HIS back!!
Thank you, Auntie Jackie…I am eternally grateful for the way our lives were intertwined, and I know for sure I am a better person for it. xox
