April 8, 2020
April 8, 2020
Libby's mother and my father were siblings. Libby and I were the same age and would have been close, but my family moved to California when I was 2 years old and I saw her only 2 times after; once when we were 12 and once when we were 15. In March of last year, I felt an inexplicable urge to locate her and to visit her in Birmingham, not knowing that she was struggling with cancer. As if the 50+ years with no contact had not passed, she welcomed me with the love and generosity that I remembered from our childhood and we spent our time reminiscing and filling in the holes in our histories. Her sense of humor was sharp as ever and she was positive and hopeful about her prognosis and her life. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke lovingly and proudly of Paul and Vicki and her incredible grandchildren, and of Jimmy, the "best brother anyone ever had," as well as Nina and Meredith whom she loved and appreciated so much. I'm so grateful that we had that time together. Rest in peace, dear cousin.